AMD and IIT-B to work together, support semicon startups to reduce hefty energy consumption in AI

AMD has teamed up with IIT-Bombay’s Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) to boost semiconductor startups in India. This exciting collaboration aims to support startups working on energy-efficient Spiking Neural Network (SNN) chips, providing much-needed grants to help them innovate and reduce the hefty energy consumption associated with traditional neural networks.

Jaya Jagadish, Country Head of AMD India, shared AMD’s ambitious vision. She talked about the company’s goal to make their processors and accelerators 30 times more energy-efficient by 2025. This initiative is part of AMD’s broader strategy to push energy efficiency way beyond the current industry standards. By partnering with industry bodies and academic institutions, AMD is keen on driving innovation and supporting initiatives that align with their green goals.

The first grant went to Numelo Technologies, a startup that’s breaking ground with SNN chips using ultra-low power quantum tunneling on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. This funding will give Numelo Technologies the boost it needs to advance its groundbreaking research and development.

Shaji Varghese, CEO of SINE-IIT Bombay, highlighted the critical role of nurturing startups in the semiconductor sector as India rolls out its comprehensive semiconductor strategy. He noted the long design cycles and high entry costs in this field, making it essential to support startups that can fill industry gaps with strong, innovative products. SINE aims to foster startups that can significantly contribute to the global market.

This collaboration is part of AMD’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, focusing on quality education in STEM and promoting scientific research. AMD’s CSR program is designed to support initiatives that drive innovation, particularly those that improve energy efficiency and foster technological advancements.

Prof. Udayan Ganguly, Director of Numelo Tech, explained the startup’s focus on extending battery life, enhancing data privacy, and developing versatile architecture for sound, image, and video recognition. Numelo Tech is tackling some of the biggest challenges in semiconductor technology today, spanning multiple levels of innovation.

The partnership between AMD and IIT-Bombay is set to play a crucial role in fostering the growth of semiconductor startups in India. By providing financial support and leveraging the expertise of both AMD and SINE, this collaboration will help startups overcome barriers in the semiconductor industry and speed up the development of innovative, energy-efficient technologies. This initiative aligns with India’s broader goals of becoming a global leader in semiconductor design and manufacturing, contributing to the country’s economic growth and technological advancement.

Moreover, this partnership underscores the power of public-private collaborations in driving innovation and supporting the development of new technologies. By working together, AMD, IIT-Bombay, and the startups can create a robust ecosystem that not only supports the growth of the semiconductor industry in India but also contributes to global technological progress.