TI employees celebrated the official TI India Silver Jubilee Day by wearing Indian ethnic wear to work and posing for photos in the "number 25" formation.

Twenty-five years ago, Texas Instruments set up a research and development (R&D) facility in Bangalore, becoming the first global technology company to establish a presence in India and bringing global attention to the country’s technological capabilities.

Since its early days TI's Bangalore site has come a long way. Initially attracted by the country's engineering talent, TI was a pioneer in the region. To connect its new facility to the rest of the company by satellite, a satellite dish had to be transported to the new facility by ox cart.

Soon, the company found India ideal for chip design. The company's engineering teams could work on a design around the clock by passing the designs along at the end of each work day to the next team around the globe. This teamwork reduced lead time for TI's customers who use the chips in all kinds of electronics.

"TI recognized the value of India for global R&D in 1985," said Bobby Mitra, president and managing director of TI India. "Today, TI commands wide respect and recognition in India for its talent and innovation, and for sowing the seeds of technology in the country."

Today, TI's Bangalore R&D center is the company's largest site outside the U.S. The site's focus has consistently been on innovation, with the number of patents filed in the U.S. by TI Indian engineers among the highest of technology companies in India. The Indian government recognized TI as the most innovative company in 2004.

Children of TI India employees got insight into what their parents do every day in the office on "Bring Your Kids To Work" Day, organized to celebrate TI India’s Silver Jubilee.

Growing opportunity
Mitra said that a few years ago TI was among the first to spot the growing domestic semiconductor market opportunity in India. Because many electronics are manufactured locally, the demand for semiconductors has increased in recent years.

"I find that the amount of innovation happening in India is unbelievable," Mitra said. "Most of it is unsaid and unread because it is mostly happening in small cities and towns."

TI has identified more than 2,000 potential customers in India. This requires the company's presence in the big cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai as well as smaller ones like Chandigarh, Nasik and Kochi. Today, TI India has 14 sales and applications support centers across the country.

"We are trying to fast-track domestic market innovations by co-innovating with our customers," Mitra said. "As much as physical infrastructure, this country needs technology infrastructure and technology that is built on electronics including efficient telecom infrastructure, smart power grids, digital meters, LED lighting, energy-efficient cars."

Silver Jubilee celebration
To celebrate its Silver Jubilee, TI India organized several events to highlight its focus on innovation and corporate citizenship:

Launching the Analog Design Contest: To encourage innovation, TI India organized the first Analog Design Contest earlier this year for undergraduate engineering students from across India. Competing teams were required to use at least three analog chips from TI or at least two TI analog chips and a TI processor. Thirty teams participated, and prizes were awarded to the top three projects, all of which may benefit society.

Anna University in Chennai won the Tom Engibous Trophy (named for TI's former chairman) and $10,000 for its entry, "Design of a low cost video bronchoscope," which can be used for non-invasive diagnosis of pulmonary tumors or other surgical procedures, such as endoscopy.

Many TI India employees went to the Bangalore Kidney Foundation Center for Dialysis on TI India's Silver Jubilee Day to cheer up patients undergoing dialysis.

IIT Madras won the first runners-up trophy and $7,500. Its entry, "Obstacle detection in flooded roads," would be useful to travelers during India's rainy season and for the visually impaired in all seasons to warn them of abrupt changes in terrain.

IIT Delhi won the second runners-up trophy and $5,000 for its entry "Electronic load control for micro hydro power plants." This project was a low-cost solution for a load controller that can be deployed in small hydropower plants. This application could be useful in rural areas for providing power to irrigation equipment at a low cost.

Planting 25 saplings on World Earth Day: TI India held a tree-planting ceremony on Earth Day in April. During the event, employees who joined the company in each of the past 25 years planted saplings around the TI Bangalore campus.

Organizing Innovation Day for the education sector: TI India organized "Innovation Day" for the education sector in New Delhi. The company's customers showcased a number of innovative solutions they had developed partnering with TI that could help in providing inclusive education and skills to schoolchildren across the country.

Continuing the TI India Science & Technology Quiz: The 8th annual TI India Science & Technology Quiz will be held in five cities across India in November and December. This popular annual event, conducted by the TI India Foundation (TIIF), is open for students in grades 8 to 10. Teams from leading schools in Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore vie for attractive prizes, such as robotic kits, telescopes, binoculars and TI calculators. TI has organized this quiz every year since 2002 to foster the spirit of inquiry and innovation among young students and motivate them to take up science as a career.

"The depth of knowledge, understanding of scientific phenomena and the presence of mind displayed by the participating teams is amazing," said Sylvia Subbaiah, head of the TIIF. "This is an important event in our annual calendar and the keen contest that we witness every year is indeed quite heartening."

TI employees and their families participated in the 2,500 meter Texathon run in Bangalore to commemorate TI India's Silver Jubilee year.

Supporting schools and the community: TIIF was set up in 2003 to coordinate community initiatives supported by the company and its employees in India. The foundation takes up various community initiatives in three broad areas – education, humanitarian and environment.

TIIF has adopted four play schools in economically-deprived areas in Bangalore, partnering with Akshara Foundation, and supporting basic education for more than 300 children.

TIIF has also donated a dialysis machine to the HIV ward of Rangadore Memorial Hospital run by the Bangalore Kidney Foundation and supports the one-free-dialysis-a-day program in the hospital. Many TI employees went to the Bangalore Kidney Foundation Center for Dialysis on TI India's Silver Jubilee Day to cheer up patients undergoing dialysis. Twenty-five needy patients received a free dialysis treatment on that day, and TI employees also presented bouquets and "get well" cards to the patients.

TI India Foundation Day is celebrated in May each year, and community organizations are invited to put up stalls in the TI campus to display and sell their wares and educate employees about needs. On the humanitarian front, TIIF supports Little Sisters of the Poor (a home for the elderly), The Missionaries of Charity, Samarthanam and Shristi Foundation, among others.

"Bring Your Kids To Work" Day: Children of TI India employees, studying in first through eighth grades, were given insight into what their parents do everyday on "Bring Your Kids To Work" Day, an event organized to celebrate TI India's Silver Jubilee. TI technology like 3D video using DLP chips was demonstrated, and an interesting quiz and science lectures were organized.

"Texathon" – TI India Silver Jubilee "25-hundred" meters run: On Indian Independence Day (August 15th) TI employees and their families in Bangalore participated in a run called "Texathon" to commemorate TI India's Silver Jubilee. More than 500 employees enthusiastically participated in the event along with their families. TI India President & Managing Director Bobby Mitra flagged off the run that started at the TI facility, and medals were presented to winners among the children and adults.