Xilinx to invest $75 million in APAC

To accelerate programmable systems innovation and development within the Asia-Pacific technology market, Xilinx Inc. recently announced its Asia Pacific Technology Fund worth $75 million. It is the company's first regionally-focused funding initiative for the booming Asia-Pacific PLD market.

"As more and more electronics design work is done in Asia Pacific, this is the right time to look for new investment opportunities to accelerate the adoption of system-level programmable technologies across the region," said Stacy Fender, managing director of Xilinx Asia Pacific. "By increasing our focus and investment in the Asia Pacific market, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to developing the region into a greater source of innovation for the global technology market and a strong driver for our growth on a global basis."

The Xilinx Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore is to administer the fund, seeking opportunities to invest in companies that are creating innovative applications based on programmable logic throughout the region including China, India, Taiwan and Korea.

"Programmable logic is becoming more mainstream in electronics design as it provides all the key product requirements for success including high-performance features, design flexibility, faster time-to-market, lower development costs and field upgradeability," said Hans Schwarz, VP of business and strategy development, corporate venture capital at Xilinx.

Aside from investing for financial returns, Xilinx also needs to establish a strong strategic link to its core business, market and/or technologies. Once a strategic link is established, the company analyzes attributes such as a sound business plan, solid management team and a reasonable exit strategy. Xilinx prefers to participate with one or more institutional venture capital firms and/or corporate venture capital funds that can actively guide and manage a local company.

"Xilinx's decision to set up their corporate venture fund in Singapore indicates the potential of Singapore as a source of new technologies and innovation," said Chua Taik Him, assistant managing director of the Singapore economic development board. We are delighted that Xilinx is leveraging Singapore's advantages to commercialize technology and develop new growth opportunities."