An important first for India’s semiconductor industry, global chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has partnered with the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), an incubator located at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-Bombay). Our cooperation aims to support and nurture firms that are dedicated to developing cutting-edge Spiking Neural Network (SNN) processors, with a focus on energy efficiency.

Combating the Energy Bottleneck in Conventional Neural Networks

This partnership’s primary objective is to overcome traditional neural networks’ escalating energy requirements. Although they are known for using a lot of power, these networks are necessary for applications involving artificial intelligence (AI). AMD intends to use awards to help IIT-Bombay-incubated companies find innovative solutions to dramatically reduce the energy footprint of neural networks.

Paving the Way for Energy-Efficient AI

The partnership is evidence of AMD’s commitment to improving energy efficiency across its product portfolio. According to AMD India Country Head Jaya Jagadish, the company aims to increase energy efficiency for its processors and accelerators—which support AI training and high-performance computing (HPC)—by 30 times by 2025. This lofty objective is a major step up from the industry’s total growth throughout the preceding five years. Jagadish stressed AMD’s ongoing collaboration with academic institutions and industry leaders to advance advancements in energy-efficient computing platforms.

Aligning with India’s Semiconductor Ambitions

This collaborative initiative aligns perfectly with India’s strategic vision for establishing a robust domestic semiconductor industry. Shaji Varghese, Chief Executive Officer of SINE-IIT Bombay, acknowledged the importance of nurturing startups in this sector, particularly given the extended design cycles and high entry barriers associated with semiconductor design. SINE, through this partnership, aims to bridge these gaps by fostering a dynamic ecosystem that empowers the creation of strong, product-oriented, and cutting-edge semiconductor design startups.

Numelo Technologies Takes the Lead

The collaboration has already seen its first success with Numelo Technologies receiving the inaugural grant. Numelo is pioneering the development of SNN chips that leverage ultralow power quantum tunnelling on silicon on insulator (SOI) technology. This technology holds immense potential for revolutionizing the energy efficiency landscape of neural networks.

A Catalyst for Future Advancements

The AMD-IIT-Bombay partnership presents a promising step forward for India’s semiconductor ambitions. By fostering a collaborative environment that supports innovative startups, this initiative has the potential to propel India to the forefront of developing energy-efficient AI solutions. The focus on SNN chips, known for their potential to mimic the human brain’s neural structure and function more efficiently, opens up exciting possibilities for the future of AI.

Looking Ahead: A Collaborative Ecosystem for Semiconductor Innovation

This cooperative endeavor establishes a noteworthy standard for further collaborations between business titans and educational establishments in India. This effort, which combines the resources and experience of AMD with the state-of-the-art research capabilities of IIT-Bombay and the incubator prowess of SINE, has the potential to become a paradigm for promoting a healthy semiconductor innovation ecosystem in India. In addition to being in line with the objectives of global sustainability, the emphasis on energy-efficient AI solutions opens the door for the advancement of more potent and widely available AI systems.

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As an editor at Atom News, Ira Chatterjee combines her passion for storytelling with a commitment to journalistic integrity. Ira Chatterjee editorial expertise lies in technology and lifestyle, ensuring that our readers stay informed about the latest trends and innovations.