AMD will train 100,000 graduates in open source GPU programming and offer 100,000 hours of free cloud access in India, aiming to democratise AI development and power the country’s startup ecosystem.
AMD has announced a major workforce development initiative to strengthen open-source GPU programming skills in India. Over the next three years, the company will train 100,000 STEM graduates in artificial intelligence (AI) and GPU programming, with a focus on open-source development.
Alongside training, AMD will provide 100,000 hours of free developer cloud access to researchers and startups in India. The programme is designed to promote open ecosystems, support the country’s rapidly expanding startup sector, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.
By offering enterprise-grade AI infrastructure without the need for costly hardware procurement, the initiative reduces complexity and capital barriers for independent developers and emerging companies. This access allows participants to leverage advanced GPU technology for AI applications, research, and market-ready innovations.
Participants will also gain hands-on experience with AMD ROCm, the company’s open software stack. ROCm includes programming models, compilers, tools, libraries, and runtimes for AI and high-performance computing on AMD GPUs, giving developers the same open-source framework used globally.
Mark Papermaster, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President at AMD, said:
“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. Democratising compute will accelerate India’s next generation of innovators and strengthen the open source community.”
Jaya Jagadish, Senior Vice President and Country Head at AMD India, added:
“This programme ensures they have the most advanced tools and knowledge to lead that transformation. We are not just training programmers; we are building the workforce that will drive India’s AI economy. When these skilled professionals enter the market with cutting-edge GPU programming expertise, that will create a multiplier effect across industries, directly contributing to India’s economic growth trajectory.”
