Renesas sets up offshore devt centre at KPIT Cummins

Bangalore, Oct 3 (UNI) Renesas, the global leader in manufacture of mobile, automotive and digital AV semiconductors, today announced the setting up of a dedicated off-shore development centre (ODC) at KPIT Cummins in Bangalore and Pune to expand and enhance its global development and design operations.

Briefing newspersons here about the tie-up, the Tokyo-based Renesas' General Manager of System Solution Business Development Hideo Hara said the two companies had a five-year-old relation and about 100 engineers of KPIT worked for Renesas from offshore at present. By 2009, the headcount would go up to 500 in its Indian offshore facility.

''We are pleased with the results such as offshore performance, technology, cost and management skills of KPIT since we started the cooperation,'' he said.

On setting up captive unit in India, Mr Hara said ''this is the first phase of our plans for this country. We are impressed with the expertice of Indian engineers who are developing solutions and designing chips for Renesas and helping it keep its edge.'' Renesas, with a manufacturing base in 20 sites in five countries, was a pure semiconductor manufacturer that provides total service through development, design, manufacture and sales.

KPIT Cummins President and Executive Director Girish Wardadkar said the company, the founder member of Indian Semiconductor Association, was in the forefront of Indian companies in semiconductor solutions, mainly in automotive and consumer sector.

It had tie-ups with Tiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing co and other global majors like Cadence, Synopsys, Magma and Mentor.

''The two companies have blossomed over five years of their partnership by working on core technologies. While KPIT had built many technology practices for Renesas, the Japanese major had provided opportunities and advise to build skills,'' he added.

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