Intel debuts India chip design program

By Colleen Taylor, Contributing Editor -- Electronic News, 10/3/2007

Today industry-leading chipmaker Intel Corp. unveiled a new program aimed at helping India-based companies and designers to build products with embedded Intel Architecture-based and XScale processors.

The program, dubbed "Indian Design House," is a voluntary membership program that provides access to technical support, Intel product roadmaps, reference platforms, product samples and training to help Indian companies to design a variety of computing platforms. The company said that it may open similar programs in other countries.

According to Intel, benefits to general members of Intel's embedded design program include access to an interactive online technical support tool, access to non-public data and product information, the opportunity to receive Intel development boards through a loan program for up to 90 days, a listing in Intel's member directory, and online and face-to-face technical training seminars.

The project marks just the latest in an increasingly friendly relationship between Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel and Asia.  Earlier this year, Intel confirmed plans to build a 300-mm fab in China, a first for the chipmaker in Asia. And in February, India's government debuted a package of tax breaks and interest-free loans to attract semiconductor manufacturers to operate within the subcontinent. At that time, India's Minister for IT and Communications Dayanidhi Maran told the press that Intel was among the first chip companies he hoped would be attracted to build a fab there.