Texas Instruments (TI) has highlighted the crucial role of its operations in India, emphasizing the country's rich pool of engineering talent.
In a recent conversation with DIGITIMES Asia, Santhosh Kumar, MD and president of Texas Instruments India pointed out that one of the biggest strengths of the Indian ecosystem is the engineers.
"Our engineering teams in India are integral to developing chips that enable functions like radar sensing for safer cars, energy-efficient and smarter personal electronics, power management chips for renewable energy, and safer and robust space technology," Kumar said.
These teams possess expertise across a broad spectrum, including analog, digital, software, power management, and connectivity.
Kumar pointed out that the unique aspect of its India center is the extensive experience that engineers acquire, which is unmatched in the region. TIers, as the employees are referred, participate in every phase of the chip design process, ranging from conceptualization and hardware design to product engineering, software development, and systems integration.
"Investing in early-career talent and college graduates is important to build a thriving workforce," Kumar added. "TI values diverse backgrounds and skills. Our comprehensive onboarding programs, continuous learning and development opportunities along with mentoring from the experts in the organization equip early-career employees for success in the semiconductor industry."
Employee initiatives
Some of the initiatives that TI has taken up in India include Women in Semiconductor and Hardware (WiSH), Research Associateships (VLSI Design), and collaborations with academia - such as IIT Madras, IIT Bombay and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) - for post-graduation courses, which are instrumental in building a pipeline of skilled engineers.
"In addition, TI offers internships to several engineering students from the leading engineering and technology institutes across India," Kumar said. "Through our internship program, students can experience what a career at TI would look like, work on meaningful projects that leave a lasting impact on our company, and build connections with TIers – many of whom they may work with when returning to TI as a new college graduate."
TI's recruitment strategy includes hiring candidates early in their career trajectory. College and university placement programs are crucial in identifying and nurturing talent. In addition, TI encourages lateral moves within the organization, fostering skill development across different functions.
"At TI, we believe in nurturing a culture of continuous learning and development, that includes valuing every employee's unique perspective, regardless of experience," Kumar said. "It is through this diversity of thought and perspective that we're able to drive innovation. This is why we provide a diverse range of programs and resources, catering to both our incoming college graduates and our experienced talent."
Focus on EV
TI has been focusing strongly on advancements in semiconductor technology for Electric Vehicles (EVs), significantly impacting the global hybrid and EV market. In response to the expected growth of semiconductors in EVs, the company introduced three chips at CES 2024 designed to power the next generation of automobiles.
These chips include radar sensors for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and programmable driver chips for Battery Management Systems (BMS). The chips are a showcase of TI's commitment to enabling safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced vehicles.
"The impact of TI's contributions to semiconductor innovation extends beyond India, influencing the global EV market," Kumar said. "By providing cutting-edge semiconductor solutions tailored for EV applications, TI is facilitating the transition from traditional combustion engines to electric architectures in automobiles. In addition, the shift towards software-defined vehicles, driven by semiconductor advancements, is crucial for realizing the future of electric mobility worldwide."
Santhosh Kumar, MD and President, Texas Instruments India. Credit: Texas Instruments.
