Indian EDA thought leaders can exploit opportunities from tech disruption!

Early April, I had met Wesley Ryder, Worldwide Technical Director, Mentor Graphics, along with Hanns Windele, VP Europe and India, Mentor, during an event organized by the India Semiconductor Association (ISA). Both were back in India recently– for Mentor’s User2User conference, where Ryder delivered the keynote: Carpe diem – Golden opportunities for India to shine!

According to Ryder, India has all the ingredients to exploit opportunities from technology disruption. Inda, according to him, has a young, open-minded workforce – not blinkered by old methods. Also, this workforce has the ability to see opportunities and take measured risks. Besides being high quality, skilled individuals, they are also (EDA) thought leaders.

Implications for EDA and India
Given this scenario, what are the implications for EDA? Ryder said these are:
* Introduce and support leading-edge design tools in India.
* EDA startups focus more initial sales efforts in San Jose and India.
* Purchasing decisions increasingly incorporate India design teams to drive flows and decisions.
* India emerges as the test bed for new design ideas.

And what are the implications for India? Ryder advises Indian designers to:
* Exercise your influence—demand best in class design tools and capabilities.
* Always remain open to new design approaches,
— Beware of becoming risk adverse as you become more experienced.
— Stay abreast of emerging innovations by maintaining close contact with EDA companies, including start-ups.
* Make your EDA suppliers aware of your issues and challenges.

Giving an overview regarding the adoption of disruptive new technologies and the evolution of EDA, Ryder said many electronic engineers do not consider themselves “risk takers.” Most electronic engineers don’t seem to like to change tools either, unless there is a major advantage in price or performance. As a result, many will not even consider “hot” new tools.

However, it has been observed that inexperienced engineers and recent university graduates eagerly adopt new technology. It provides them a way to distinguish themselves, besides the productivity advantage. Also, they are less invested in existing methodologies.

Among designers with five to 15 years of experience, it was observed that some were reluctant, but afraid to be left behind. Some others were intimidated by new college graduates. However, the smartest, most aggressive designers made the change relatively quickly. Many delayed transition, waiting for mature tools.

India a fertile environment for new tech adoption
So what makes a fertile environment for new technology adoption? A young, open-minded workforce, which can see opportunities and take measured risks, and those who are highly skilled and thought leaders!

Ryder said that the the age of electronic engineers in India is lower than all other major design locations. It is 46 years in the USA, 45 in Japan, 41 in Europe, 35 in Korea, 34 in Taiwan, 31 in China and 30 in India! Hence, the tenure is lower and designers are not blinkered or bothered by old methods. He added that India’s engineers place a high priority on staying current, learning and continuing education.

He cited a quote of Rich Templeton, president and CEO, Texas Instruments, who said about India: “The reason we are here is very simple — and that is to get access to really great people.” He added: “TI India is an integral part of our worldwide development strategy in bringing about, stateof-the-art products and technologies for our customers globally. Over the years, India has come to play an increasingly important role in the long-term success of TI.”

Ryder contended that electronic designers in India, on average, are as smart as those from United States, Europe and Japan.

Disruption creates opportunity and there is an increasing influence of India design centers. For instance, Indian designers were early adopters of C-based design. Also, place and route was increasingly being carried out in India (and DFT + verification). In functional verification, India also has deep expertise in modeling.

With such EDA thought leaders in place, India possesses all of the necessary ingredients to exploit opportunities from technology disruption.