Xilinx sets up R&D centre; to develop IP cores
IP cores are pre-engineered functional modules to reduce the development time of programmable system designs. Xilinx expects to grow to about 300 people in a couple of years.

The Hindu Business Line, October 5, 2006

Fabless semiconductor company Xilinx Inc on Wednesday announced the setting up of its research and development (R&D) centre here that would focus on developing intellectual property (IP) cores for global clients and more specifically the region.

The Asia-Pacific region now accounts for its second largest market and contributes to about 26 per cent of its total revenues of $1.73 billion. China and India offer immense scope to expand this base, according to the company.

The Senior Vice-President, Global Enterprise Services, Xilinx, Mr Kris Chellam, said "this is part of the company strategy to invest in high-growth markets to support customers and to increase local presence is a signal to our long term commitment to the Indian technology sector."

Xilinx would now have about 75 engineers here, which it expects to grow to about 300 people in a couple of years. This centre is located at Cyber Pearl near here.

The company provides programmable logic solutions and partners with two of the leading manufacturers Toshiba and UMC. The development work would centre around automotive electronics, embedded processing and high-speed connectivity areas.

IP cores are pre-engineered functional modules that Xilinx customers use to reduce the development time of their programmable system designs.

Apart from the R&D activity, the new centre will provide design verification for IP cores and technical support for Xilinx's customers.

Xilinx is in the process of finalising plans for an Asia-centric venture fund and expects to launch it in November, he said.

CMC TO PARTNER
The Managing Director of CMC Ltd, Mr R. Ramanan, said that CMC and Xilinx would continue to be associated and part of the development work would take place at the CMC facility.

Apart from being associated with Xilinx directly, various partners working with Xilinx would be able to access CMC's expertise in embedded technologies.

CMC now has over 700 people working on embedded technologies, and this has emerged as one of the growth areas.