In a world increasingly dominated by AI and advanced electronics, system design has become a crucial skill for the next wave of engineers. This complex field, which involves the integration of diverse components into seamless, efficient systems, is essential for India’s ambition to emerge as a global tech leader. A recent webinar featuring industry experts and academics highlighted this shift.
Subind Kumar, VP of Engineering and Country Manager for India at Western Digital, a leading data storage firm, described system design in the storage industry as being composed of three layers: flash chips for storage, ASIC technology, and firmware. He emphasized how even a simple USB flash drive integrates these layers, each requiring unique expertise, making cross-functional knowledge crucial for professionals.
Vivek Tyagi, MD of sales for India at Analog Devices, pointed out that India’s electronic system design and manufacturing industry is expected to double from $150 billion to $300 billion by 2027. Currently, most of the focus is on assembly, but Tyagi argued that true value comes from designing systems first. He estimated that while assembly yields profit margins of 5-13%, system design can boost margins to 30-50%. This shift, he said, is key to India’s growth in electronics manufacturing.
Internship
To achieve this, education reform is essential. Mayank Shrivastava, a professor at IISc Bengaluru, noted that rigid academic curricula in tier-2 and tier-3 institutions prevent students from developing the interdisciplinary skills needed for system design. To address this, the India Semiconductor Workforce Development Program at IISc offers hands-on training to inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in semiconductor design and manufacturing.
Prasad Sandireddy, VP of Product Development at Western Digital, highlighted the importance of curiosity and collaboration in mastering system design, while Kumar advocated for internships as a bridge between academia and industry. Tyagi suggested that bridge courses focusing on VLSI and embedded system design could help graduates become industry-ready.
Government policies
like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, have successfully boosted manufacturing, but Tyagi argued that initiatives like the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme are needed to promote semiconductor design startups in India.
AI is also expected to revolutionize system design. Kumar predicted that AI will lead to significant advances in prototyping and testing, cutting costs and speeding up development. Tyagi added that AI is already optimizing chip design, drastically reducing cycle times, and Shrivastava believes AI tools will soon take over many optimization and verification tasks, calling for a rethinking of engineering education.
Despite challenges
the future of system design in India looks promising. The country’s vast engineering talent, combined with increasing demand for electronic systems, positions India well to become a global leader in this field. As Kumar concluded, “We are in the midst of a dream run for electronics and system design in India.”