Amit Gupta is optimistic about the future of Siemens EDA. The Saskatoon-based company develops software that uses AI for chip design.
Michael Joel-Hansen
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Amit Gupta is optimistic about the future for Siemens EDA.
The Saskatoon-based technology company, which specializes in developing software that uses artificial intelligence to help companies better design electronic chips, recently hosted an open house at its offices at Innovation Place on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
Gupta, who is vice president and general manager of the operation, said the company wants to raise its profile with students in relevant fields who might be interested in working there. The turnout for the event was diverse, he said.
“They were electrical engineering, computer engineering, engineering physics, computer science, math students — so undergraduate students, graduate students.”
Gupta said around 250 people attended, including industry professionals.
He told the group the company wants to hire around 40 people for a range of positions. Siemens EDA does not provide precise numbers, but Gupta said its staff level is in the hundreds. The majority have local connections, he added.
“Most of the employees that we have are graduates from the University of Saskatchewan.”
The company’s relationship with the university now also includes the funding of a chair in the college of engineering. The faculty member appointed to the position will conduct research in the field of electronic design automation software, and teach classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
“That’s another way that we’re increasing the awareness about what we do and also (increasing) the amount of research activity and coarse activity,” Gupta said.
The company’s history in Saskatoon dates back to 2005, when Gupta founded Solido Design Automation Inc. It began as a three-person operation and was eventually able to acquire venture capital funding to expand further and perform research and development, leading to the company’s first software products.
Solido Design Automation was acquired by Siemens in 2017; at the time, it was described as the largest technology deal in the province’s history.
“We’ve demonstrated you can grow large technology companies here locally that will make tremendous impact,” Gupta said.
The company expects demand for its products and services will continue to grow while the design processes for microchips is also expected to become more complex.
The chip market is strengthened by world governments recognizing their future economic importance, leading to legislation being passed in many countries, including Canada and the United States, to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
Gupta said this kind of legislation benefits the company — manufacturers will need the necessary software.
“It’s expected to be a one-trillion-dollar industry by 2030, so our customer base is really growing very quickly.”
