Intel opens new design unit in Bengaluru

Intel Corp has set up a new research and development (R&D) facility, SRR4, in India, according to media reports on November 15, citing an official statement. The smart facility, set up at an investment of more than US$155 million, will considerably increase the US-based chipmaker’s R&D capacity in the country. The campus, spread over 44 acres and featuring 100,000 sq ft of lab space, will focus on hardware and software innovation. The expansion marks the company’s 20 years of operations in the country. With the milestone, Intel is also looking to further drive innovation in India.

On the occasion, Bob Swan, Intel’s CFO and interim CEO, said, “…Intel India has grown tremendously over the past 20 years to become a strategic site and a key growth engine for Intel as it transforms to a data-centric company. The inauguration of the new research and development (R&D) facility reinforces our commitment to India. We have robust collaborations with the vibrant and mature technology ecosystem in India and look forward to the next 20 years of innovation.” Intel recently said that it trained around 99,000 people in India in artificial intelligence (AI) over the past 16 months.

Intel had also organised India’s first AI developer conference in Bengaluru, aimed at building AI capacity in the nation, right from research and development to practical application in businesses and public services.  An Intel study in December 2017 had found that AI spending in India is bound to rise by up to 11 per cent over the coming 18 months. Last year, Intel had organised ‘AI Day’ in Bengaluru, where it displayed how AI was being incorporated into academia, ecommerce, financial services, cloud products, among others. Meanwhile, Intel has been tying up with Indian companies to incorporate AI.