India, a country known for its thriving technology industry and software development, is making a significant push towards becoming a major player in the world of chip design. In particular, the country has set its sights on RISC-V, an open-source architecture for computer chipsets that is quickly becoming a global movement.
RISC-V is being seen as a game-changer in the world of chip design, as it allows for the creation of custom chips that can be tailored to specific applications. Architecture is gaining popularity across the world, and India is at the forefront of this movement. The Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has stated that Indian startups using RISC-V have a lot of potential for creating products, devices, and AI solutions and that global companies like Tenstorrent are interested in working together.
Tenstorrent is a startup that is being led by legendary chip designer Jim Keller. Keller has worked on some of the most significant chipsets in history, including the AMD K7 processor, which was the first computer chipset to achieve a processing speed of 1 gigahertz. He also worked on the design of the AMD K8 processors, and the chipsets for the Apple A4 and A5, and was a member of the leading design team at AMD. His decision to establish Tenstorrent’s office in India was welcomed by the MoS IT.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT has launched the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) program to promote the local development of electronic chips and launch the first indigenous chipset by 2023 and 2024. The goal is to create a chip that is designed and manufactured in India, which would be a significant achievement for the country’s technology industry.
Chandrasekhar has praised the move by Keller and other global semiconductor leaders to establish a presence in India. He believes that young Indians are going to shape the future of semiconductor design, build, and create new products, devices, and solutions. He has stated that Bengaluru is the capital of RISC-V innovation and that India is the time and place for RISC-V.
In conclusion, India is making significant strides in the world of chip design, particularly in the area of RISC-V architecture. With the launch of the DIR-V program, the country is hoping to launch the first indigenous chipset by 2023-2024. The move by Tenstorrent and other global semiconductor leaders to establish a presence in India is a significant boost to the country’s technology industry and highlights the growing importance of RISC-V in the world of chip design. It will be interesting to see how India’s technology industry develops in the coming years and whether it can establish itself as a major player in the global semiconductor market.
