As artificial intelligence, connected devices and next-generation communications drive a new wave of computing demand, India’s semiconductor ecosystem is expanding beyond chip design into software, product engineering and platform development. With growing investments in AI-enabled devices, 5G and edge computing, demand for specialised talent across the chipset value chain is rising rapidly.
Amid growing demand for semiconductor and digital engineering expertise, Bengaluru-headquartered Sasken Technologies Ltd., a product engineering and digital transformation company that works with Fortune 500 enterprises, semiconductor majors, hyperscalers and leading OEMs, has strengthened its presence in Hyderabad with the launch of a new Center of Excellence (CoE).
Located at Rajapushpa Summit in the Financial District, the facility will focus on AI, 5G, IoT, embedded systems and digital product engineering, while strengthening collaboration with strategic chipset customers such as Qualcomm and their ecosystem partners.
The company expects the semiconductor industry to become a trillion-dollar market driven by AI integration. Through its collaboration with Borqs Technologies, Sasken has expanded its capabilities across connected devices and product engineering, complementing its semiconductor expertise. Its capabilities include silicon design, intellectual property (IP) creation, chipset software development, Linux and Android support, and graphics processing unit (GPU) optimisation.
In addition to semiconductor engineering services, Sasken also operates as an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM), developing devices such as smartwatches, gateways and smartphones. The company has maintained a relationship spanning over 15 years with Qualcomm, which was also an investor in both Borqs and Sasken.
“Our customer base includes hyperscalers, semiconductor companies and enterprises across the automotive, consumer devices, industrial and satellite communications sectors. We are currently pursuing our ‘643’ growth strategy, which aims to scale 60 customer accounts to generate at least $4 million in revenue each within the next three years,” said Rajiv C. Mody, Chairperson, Managing Director and CEO of Sasken Technologies.
He added that the company is prioritising the hiring of architects, designers and technical leads with expertise in Generative AI, Edge AI and application-layer technologies, rather than focusing solely on headcount growth, noting that Sasken is also leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance productivity and develop industry-specific solutions for the automotive, telecom and high-tech sectors.
Rajiv said Sasken continues to invest heavily in innovation, reinvesting around 4% to 5% of its revenue into research and development while maintaining a portfolio of nearly 200 patents.
“The Hyderabad expansion will also support the region’s growing Global Capability Center (GCC) ecosystem, particularly in the mobile and IoT segments. With a workforce of approximately 2,460 employees, Sasken plans to hire more than 100 specialised professionals in Hyderabad in the coming months,” said Nirmala Datla, Chief Data Science and Engineering Officer, Sasken Technologies.
Meanwhile, Hareesh Ramanna, Chief Experience Officer, Sasken Technologies, said Hyderabad is well-positioned to become a semiconductor hub, already excelling in IP design and software despite lacking a fabrication facility (fab). He noted that the launch of the Center of Excellence strengthens Sasken’s delivery footprint and enables it to support customers with greater speed, scale and proximity, while supporting the company’s growth strategy through continued investments in talent and capabilities.
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