Embedded Systems / VLSI Design / Electronic Design and Automation

Embedded systems are computers (microprocessors) that are enclosed (embedded) in customized
hardware. Examples of embedded systems are portable medical equipment, cellular phones, or
consumer electronics items. The global demand for semiconductors is expected to remain robust
in 2006 due to an increase in demand for consumer electronics. According to the Semiconductor
Industry Association (SIA), the worldwide semiconductor sales set a new record of 227.5 billion in
2005. This rapid growth has opened a range of career opportunities in the embedded design
industry.

There are over 130 chip design firms present in India—the vast pool of talent and growing
domestic market has helped the country emerge as an important centre for chip design. Last year,
the industry witnessed major investments in the country in R&D, an indicator of India’s potential
with respect to the talent available. A country traditionally acknowledged for its software
development capabilities is now exhibiting its competency in the chip design industry. This
booming semiconductor industry promises 3.5 million jobs by 2015, according to a report by the
Indian Semiconductor Association (ISA) and global consulting company Frost & Sullivan.

Indian engineers have carved a niche for themselves by making significant contributions to the
development of cutting-edge technology. India, with capabilities in very large scale integration
(VLSI) design and software development, has potentially captured a larger share of the market by
focusing on these markets. It is no wonder that almost all of the top 10 semiconductor vendors
have established design centers in India. This has also contributed to the growth of the electronic
design automation (EDA) industry in India. Leading Indian IT companies are also setting up product
engineering and design services, partnering with global chip majors. Today’s engineers, therefore,
have immense opportunities in hardware and embedded design, developing integrated circuits
(ICs); field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and systems-on-chips (SoCs), apart from typical
software development opportunities.

Embedded systems market, which is one of the key drivers of Indian R&D offshoring and is
currently pegged at around US$ 25 billion globally, growing at a 16% compound annual growth
rate (CAGR).A NASSCOM-Mckinsey study states that the domestic embedded systems market for
India is gearedto generate U.S. $9.5 billion and exports worth U.S. $ 10 billion by the year 2008.
This being a niche field, companies are increasingly looking for professionals with hands-on
experience in digital application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design, physical design, mixed
signal IC design, verilog, VHDL or VHSIC, VLSI design, circuit design and simulations, micro-
controllers, digital PCB design and routing. Expansion plans of various MNCs and recent efforts by
NASSCOM to play up India’s product development skills suggest that embedded software would be
India’s next sunrise sector. However the Indian Semiconductor Association (ISA) estimates that
engineering colleges are meeting only 20 per cent of the industry demand for chip design
engineers. Organisations spend a year and a half shaping young graduates even as the courses in
our educational institutions are outdated. Both industry and academia would benefit if institutes
introduce a competent courseware and the industry gets involved in imparting professional
training in institutes.
DOEACC CENTRE, CALICUT
Since the market demand for embedded system designers has become very high and is expected
to grow further, DOEACC Centre Calicut initiated action for starting an M.Tech. Course (affiliated to
Calicut University) in Embedded Systems. M.Tech program in Embedded Systems was started from
July 2005-06 with an intake of 18 students of whom 5 are sponsored candidates. The course has
received good response and is currently going on in full swing. The duration of the course is 24
months (4 semesters) and the semester fee per candidate is Rs.30,000. The 2nd batch of
admission is over this year and the classes have already started from 02.08.06.
Apart from the long term course following short term courses on embedded system and VLSI are
being conducted by the centre.
Sl No. Name of the course Batch Size Duration Course Fees
ED:500:PG Diploma in Embedded System
1. 30 6 months Rs. 46,000
Design
2. ED:505:Embedded S/w & RT Linux Course 30 3 weeks Rs. 6000
3. ED508:Embedded Product Design Course 30 2 weeks Rs. 4000
4. PG Diploma in VLSI Design 30 6 months RS. 30,000

DOEACC CENTRE, IMPHAL

A VLSI and Embedded System Lab has been set up at this Centre ( Imphal ) as a project under DIT,
MCIT.
2006.The contents of this course are-

1. MOS transistor, MOS Inverter, CMOS Circuits and logic circuits, CMOS chip Design options,
2. MOS Processing Technology, VLSI packaging
3. Digital logic components and circuits
4. Programmable logic, programmable gate arrays, PAL, PLA, CPLD, FPGA
5. CAD Tools
6. HDL, VHDL DOEACC © 2005, All rights reserved

Plans for upgradation: Software tools such as assemblers, compilers and IDEs and trainers
boards for microcontrollers such as 8051 and PIC family are being added to the Lab. Courses on
Embedded Systems will be introduced shortly.
DOEACC CENTRE, SRINAGAR/JAMMU

1. The Centre ( SRINAGAR/JAMMU ) offers Short-Term courses titled

• Designing with 8051

• Designing with AVR Micro-controller

Future Plans:
To offer 3 months/6 months training program on embedded system for which 3 faculty members
have been currently deputed to undergo modular training program on Embedded System at
DOEACC Centre ,Calicut.
DOEACC CENTRE, AURANGBAD

C-DAC and DOEACC Centre,Aurangabad have executed a MoU on 29thJune,2006 to

collaborate/work in the common areas of interest like e-learning and embedded systems etc. The
Centre proposes to conduct the Course “Diploma in Embedded System Design (DESD)” w.e.f 25th
Sept,2006 at DOEACC Centre, Aurangbad. C-DAC will provide its academic and technical support
like syllabus preparation, laboratory component identification, faculty orientation program etc.
The Centre conducts the following short term courses on VLSI Design .
Sl No. Name of the course Duration Course Fees
1. A VHDL for Digital Designers 1 week Rs. 2500
A Circuit Simulation, foundations for Analog Chip
2. 1 week Rs. 4000
Design Course
3. Certificate Course in VLSI Design 6 months Rs. 30,000
An Electronics Product Development using
4. 12 weeks RS. 15,000
FPGA/CPLD & Data Converters Course
5. Board Design, Analysis and layout Course 4 weeks RS. 8000
6. VLSI Backend (Physical Design) 4 weeks RS. 8000
7. Diploma in Embedded System Design 16 weeks RS. 20,000

DOEACC CENTRE, GORAKHPUR

1. The Centre ( Gorakhpur ) is organizing following training programme in the field of

Embedded System.

a. 6 months Advance Diploma in Embedded System

b. 1 month Summer Training in Embedded System
c. 1 week to 4 week short term training in Embedded System

• One month Summer Training on Embedded System has been conducted during
June/July/August and 102 Candidates has been trained.
• Six months Advance Diploma in Embedded System has been advertised going to
commence shortly.

2. The Centre is organizing following training programme in VLSI/EDA Tools. Interaction with
various Engineering Colleges is under process.

a. One week Winter School on “VHDL Programming & Synthesis” for Engineering College
students scheduled from 9th October 2006 to 13th October 2006.
b. One week Faculty Training Programme on “VHDL Programming & Synthesis” for