Microchip setting up more design centres in India

The US-based $1-billion Microchip Technology sees India as a growth market for its micro-controllers. Built on 8-bit and more recently, 16-bit architecture, the company''s market for its micro-controllers mainly comprises automotive manufacturers with global brands, who need to upgrade their products to international standards, especially to improve fuel efficiency.

At present, India uses only one per cent of the global production of semiconductors, while China''s share is estimated at 16 per cent. Microchip operates a design centre in Bangalore, its second-largest outside the US.

The company plans to have 150 products with 16-bit technology by March 2008, Microchip Technology''s CEO and chairman Steve Sanghi told the media in Bangalore on Tuesday 16 October.

For this, the company has set up another design centre in Pune, he said. The customer service centre in Bangalore is one among three such centres, which has English-speaking local talent. Microchip Technology also conducts regular training sessions for engineering college students in association with institutions like the Anna University and Visvesvaraya Technological University, he said.