WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2005
Intel sets up circuit research lab in Bangalore
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
BANGALORE: As an endorsement of the importance it attaches to its nascent technology development facility in Bangalore, leading global chipmaker, Intel, has set up a circuit research lab here.
This is first of its kind outside Oregon, US - Intel's oldest and most important technology site. Intel has also commenced its 'Fellow in Residence' programme in the country.
Circuit research is at the core of Intel's technology. Last year, a microprocessor technology lab was set up at Intel India Development Center (IIDC) to focus on circuit prototyping.
This has now been extended to cover circuit research - a constant process of making smaller transistors with higher performance. Transistors are miniature electronic switches, which form the base of a microprocessor.
The advanced nature of product development that is taking place in the company's young development facility in Bangalore is amazing, said Raj Yavatkar an Intel Fellow, and director, systems technology lab at Intel Oregon. Other vital work being done at IIDC includes developing the next generation Zeon processors and chip sets for mobile platforms. Yavatkar is on one year assignment to seed the Intel Fellow in Residence programme at IIDC.
In an interview with ET here Monday, he said that his role would be to identify and create Intel Fellows - the highest grade in the technical ladder within Intel. There are just 50 Intel fellows in Intel's total employee count of 80,000 plus, most of whom are engineers.
It would, he said, take around 20 plus years for a technology centre to reach the maturity curve and start producing engineers, who can be shortlisted to apply for Intel Fellow.
"Considering the strategic seriousness of the IIDC, we want to jump start the process of fellowship," he said.
Intel fellows are highly experienced engineers, hand-picked to provide strategic technology direction to the company.
Yavatkar said that one aspect of his job would be to identify seminal technologies at IIDC and provide the right link in the academic world to potential candidates.
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