By Mahesh Turaga
India’s semiconductor ecosystem is at a pivotal inflection point. From startups in Hyderabad and Bengaluru to global players in Noida, the convergence of policy support, entrepreneurial energy, and global demand is reshaping the landscape. Over the past few years, India has made significant strides in semiconductor design and innovation. The government’s design-linked incentive (DLI) scheme and the rise of fabless startups have created fertile ground for innovation. But as the industry accelerates, one enabler is quietly transforming the pace: Cloud for electronic design automation (EDA).
Companies like HrdWyr are scaling infrastructure for next-gen AI SoCs (system-on-a-chip), running 100% of their design and simulation workloads in the cloud. Many startups are pushing boundaries in design services, IP development, and AI compute processors. OptoML, which is building ultra-efficient edge AI chips, has been cloud-native from day one. Their designers work in a secured cloud design environment, enabling reproducible runs with rapid setup.
These are not isolated success stories. They represent a broader shift in how design teams —specially in India—are embracing cloud to overcome traditional bottlenecks. This diversity of ambition—from pre-revenue startups to multinational corporations—underscores a common theme: India is ready to lead in semiconductor innovation. But readiness alone isn’t enough. Execution, speed, and scalability are critical. That’s where the cloud comes in.
Hybrid cloud adoption, though complex, is growing, especially among mid-size and large enterprises. Balancing cost, compliance, and data security across environments is complex. Major EDA companies have invested heavily to address these issues—enabling low-cost multi-cloud infrastructure, solving data sync problems by enabling true hybrid cloud, and supporting secure onboarding of massive process design kit & design datasets.
The rise of GenAI powered EDA tools, including LLM copilots for script drafting and log triage, is streamlining workflows. GenAI workloads are now emerging as a powerful accelerator for cloud adoption, powered by AI agents—enabling intelligent automation, faster debugging, and smarter design decisions. As GenAI becomes integral to chip design, cloud platforms such as OnCloud will democratise access to these capabilities, allowing even small teams to leverage cutting-edge AI tools without heavy infrastructure investments.
India’s semiconductor journey is just beginning. With the right mix of talent, infrastructure, and innovation, the country can become a global hub for chip design and development. But to get there, we must embrace the tools that enable speed, scale, and success. Whether you’re a startup in Hyderabad or Bangalore, or a global player in Noida, the message is clear: the future of semiconductor design is in the cloud—and powered by GenAI.
Let’s build it together.
