Intel to create jobs in India with Rs 1,100 crore investment in new R&D centre

Key highlights:

• Intel Corporation announced that it will invest US$178 million in India
• New R&D facility is expected to generate jobs over the next 18 months
• Intel's new R&D facility will be located at it's 44-acre campus in Bengaluru

At a time where top IT and technology companies in India are cutting jobs due to the H-1B visa restrictions in the US, leading chip maker Intel Corporation announced that it will invest US$178 million (around Rs 1,100 crore) to expand its research and development (R&D) presence and build a state-of-the-art design house in Bengaluru.

The proposed facility will be located at Intel’s 44-acre campus on Sarjapur Ring Road (SRR) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. With approximately 620,000 sq ft of space, including lab capacity, the new building with specialised infrastructure will be used for chip design and verification purposes, the company said.

This Rs 1,100 crore investment into the new R&D facility is expected to generate jobs over the next 18 months, according to an IANS report. It will also have a computer software development and hardware design service facility.

This fresh investment is in addition to the $2 billion the chip maker had invested into the country till 2016.

Intel in India has about 7,000 technology employees to design and power the semiconductor chips for it global customers. These customers include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of computers, smartphones and other electronic devices.

“Designed to be a “smart and green” building, the upcoming facility, SRR4, will be constructed using innovative “One High Technology,” with each floor being built on the ground, then lifted and attached to the of the building, and then built from the roof downward. This technology will enable the reduction of scheduled construction time by 30% as compared to traditional construction methods,” said the company.

The second such building in India, it will be constructed entirely by local contractors, will be equipped with IoT-based smart features, including smart lights and real-time occupancy management, and will use renewable energy sources like fuel cell-based power.

“Karnataka has always been in the forefront when it comes to the IT industry, being the centre of investment, our Invest Karnataka initiative is proving its worth with such beneficial investments in the recent years. Such investments will bring tremendous job opportunities and strengthen the IT sector in the country,” said Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka.

“Bengaluru has the right potential required for growth in the IT industries and such an investment will propel the state and in turn move the country forward in achieving greater heights. This is one of the many investment agendas that we have planned for the state. I’m confident that Intel’s investments will encourage innovation and bring in more opportunities” said Priyank Kharge, Minister of Information Technology & Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka.

“Intel India plays a very strategic role in Intel’s growth, with significant contributions to Intel’s technology and product leadership,” said Nivruti Rai, Intel India general manager, vice president of Data Center Group. “We are excited about expanding our best-in-class R&D infrastructure in India that will enable us to continue our momentum in doing cutting-edge innovation and design work from India. We look forward to working with the vibrant ecosystem in India and contribute to the country’s innovation journey.”