AMD Offers Free Developer Cloud Access to Indian Researchers and Startups to Democratize Compute

AMD is offering 100,000 hours of free access to its Developer Cloud to Indian researchers and startups, enabling them to use enterprise-grade AI infrastructure for free. This initiative aims to support India's digital transformation and expand its startup ecosystem. AMD is also launching a workforce development program to train 100,000 STEM graduates in AI and GPU programming over three years, focusing on open-source GPU programming.

AMD, a leading semiconductor firm, has announced a significant initiative aimed at bolstering India's digital transformation and startup ecosystem. The company is offering 100,000 hours of free access to its Developer Cloud to Indian researchers and startups, enabling them to utilize enterprise-grade AI infrastructure without significant capital investment [1].

The initiative, which will be available for the next year, provides developers and open-source contributors with on-demand access to AMD Instinct MI300X GPUs through a third-party cloud website. These GPUs are designed to power AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) workloads, making them invaluable for developing breakthrough AI applications and conducting cutting-edge research [1].

In addition to the cloud access, AMD is launching a comprehensive workforce development program to train 100,000 STEM graduates in AI and GPU programming over the next three years. The program will focus on developing expertise in open-source GPU programming, a critical skill set for the next generation of AI applications [2]. Participants will gain hands-on experience on AMD ROCm, the open software stack which includes programming models, tools, compilers, libraries, and runtimes for AI and HPC solution development on AMD GPUs [1].

Mark Papermaster, CTO and Executive Vice President of AMD, highlighted the importance of this initiative in removing cost and complexity barriers for startups and independent developers. He stated, "This initiative removes cost and complexity barriers for startups and independent developers by opening access to AMD GPUs for training and development: no hardware procurement, no heavy upfront spend" [1].

Jaya Jagadish, senior vice president and country head of AMD India, emphasized the transformative potential of this program. She noted, "India's engineering talent is already shaping the future of high-performance computing and AI globally. This programme ensures they have the most advanced tools and knowledge to lead that transformation" [1].

The program aims to accelerate India's next generation of innovators and strengthen the open-source community, directly contributing to the country's economic growth trajectory [1]. By providing access to cutting-edge GPU technology and training the next generation of AI professionals, AMD is poised to play a pivotal role in India's digital transformation journey.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/business/amd-offers-100k-hours-of-free-developer-cloud-access-to-indian-researchers-startups-to-democratise-compute/article70017119.ece
[2] https://m.economictimes.com/tech/technology/amd-to-offer-1-lakh-hours-of-free-developer-cloud-access-to-indian-researchers-startups/articleshow/123723331.cms