Bengaluru: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has launched a first-of-its-kind incubator program focusing on creating an ecosystem for grooming startups in the area of chip design.

Called the Fabless Chip Design Incubator Program, or FabCI, it will be based in the IIT Hyderabad campus for fabless IC startups in India.

The Fabless Chip Design Incubator is a flagship program being executed with the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and in partnership with Cadence Design Systems, Inc., a leading provider of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software, hardware and IP.

The primary motivation for this unique incubator program is to provide a one-stop solution for start-ups focusing in the area of chip design. The vision of this incubator is to create an ecosystem wherein the incubatees are not only provided with the relevant infrastructure, hardware and software but also are mentored through the path of success with the help of mentors who are pioneers in this field.

Speaking about the launch of FabCI, Prof U.B. Desai, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said, “This new incubator program demonstrates our commitment to generating IPR in chip design. It will be another testament to the entrepreneurial culture of the Institute”.

“I am confident that FabCI will make great contributions to the growth of chip design in the country. This incubator program will also be a shot in the arm to the ‘Make in India’ campaign and help India become a global hub for chip design,” added Prof Desai.

The grand vision is to leverage the deep research and design expertise of the IIT Hyderabad faculty as well as external mentors  to create Indian IP and to make a mark in chip design internationally.

IIT Hyderabad has designated Cadence as the technology partner for FabCI. While there is a dedicated facility being established at the IIT-H campus for the incubator, remote access to Cadence’s tools is available to enable semiconductor innovation and entrepreneurship irrespective of location.

The incubator is fully functional already and is soliciting applications from fabless IC startups.

Speaking about the partnership with IIT Hyderabad for FabCI program, Mr. Jaswinder Ahuja, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Cadence Design Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd, said, “Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential for the growth of the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem in India. Incubators play a catalytic role in lowering entry barriers and fostering entrepreneurship. Cadence has been working with the Government of India, industry and academia for many years now to grow the ecosystem. We are excited to partner with an esteemed institution like IIT-H for ‘FabCI’, a unique incubator, which we expect can provide a boost to homegrown semiconductor innovation.”

Mr. Hemant Kanakia, Chief Advisor and Mentor for FabCI, said “India has an enormous potential to become a center of excellence for fabless semiconductor product and service companies. FabCI is a very good first step in realizing that potential by creating an ecosystem for start-ups in the semi-conductor sector. In my opinion, the success of FabCI depends on partnerships with Industries such as EDA tools, Fabrication Factories, Indian Electronics and Semi-Conductor Association and local subsidiaries of multinationals involved in design and manufacture of silicon products in India. I applaud the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information, in particular Addl. Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar (IAS) for supporting the creation this center.”

In addition to its world-class EDA technologies, Cadence will also provide its platforms for emulation, rapid prototyping and access to its engineering expertise to ensure success of the incubator and incubatees.