Atmel Corp expands Chennai R&D unit

US-based Nasdaq-listed Atmel Corporation, which is into designing, developing and supplying of microcontrollers, has expanded its research and development centre that was established here with investments of over USD 1 million, a top official said today.
The move to expand the R&D Centre was part of the company's plans to tap the huge potential that was available in the industrial and automotive sector in India, Atmel Corporation President and CEO Steven Laub said.
"We have just inaugurated our R&D Centre. Now, it has 200 people. Actually, it was running since end of October but we are formally inaugurating it today...," Laub, on his first visit to Chennai, told reporters.

"The opportunity available here is huge. For example microcontrollers or wires or in the automotive sectors, there is a lot of opportunity. We will focus on circuit design, software and design tools," he said.
Noting that the revenue from the Indian market was less than 10 per cent, he said the company plans to increase the sales contribution as fast as possible.
"Absolutely. We intend to increase the sales contribution as fast as possible," he added.
Suraj Mukundarajan, MD, Atmel R&D India, said "the R&D Centre was established in 2006 and investments made so far at the facility was over USD 1 million".