BITS Pilani Distinguished Alumnus Award 2017 conferred on Patents Galore Sunil Nanda

Sunil’s expertise and areas of interest include Computer Architecture & Multiprocessors, Computer Graphics, Operating Systems & Compilers, VLSI CAD and Project Management. He has three decades of experience in VLSI Technology in all three areas of Research, Development and Management. He graduated with a BE (Hons) Electronics from Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani (1975-1980) followed by MS-Computer Engineering from University of Iowa (1980-1982).

Besides VLSI Design, Sunil is a recognized industry expert in domains of Computer Architecture and Computer Graphics. He has multiple patents to his name related to these domains. Sunil is constantly called upon to deliver talks, both technical and non-technical, at various industry forums and conferences and is sought after as a mentor by many industry start-ups. Sunil began his career in the USA and spent more than a decade and a half there before relocating to Bangalore.

Within the USA, he worked on bleeding edge technology with the likes of Intel, SUN Microsystems, Cadence etc. The chips he designed, or managed the design of, include Graphics Processors, Floating Point Processors, SPARC CPUs and other Media Accelerators. While in the USA, Sunil was also part of the founding team for a VLSI CAD start-up company developing unique simulation technology that led to its acquisition by Cadence.

Sunil’s list of patents include US06044448 - Method and apparatus for Slice-ability of a Media Operations Processor; US05958038 - Method and apparatus for Data Streaming in a Media Operations Processor; US05509130 - Method and apparatus for grouping multiple instructions, issuing grouped instructions simultaneously, and executing grouped instructions in a pipelined processor; US05497480 - Broadcast de-map for de-allocating memory pages in a multiprocessor system; US05390190 - Inter-domain latch for scan based design; US05329627 - Method and apparatus for a translation look-aside buffer with built-in replacement scheme in a computer system and US04797852 - Block shifter for graphics processor.

On moving to Bangalore, Sunil setup a VLSI Design Centre from ground zero for S3 Inc., USA. After getting it up and operational and recognized, Sunil founded Thinkit Technologies specializing in networking VLSI devices. Thinkit developed unique VLSI solutions for networking switches and routers which led to its acquisition by Intel Corp. Sunil served as the GM of the Switching Business Unit within Intel and was responsible for managing multiple teams across geographies - the USA, Israel and Bangalore. He followed it up by setting up a new Design Centre for Nvidia in India and growing it from zero to a stage where it could manage multiple chip designs simultaneously. One of the chips designed by this centre earned more than 100 awards worldwide as the best performing design of its kind.

As an Angel Investor, Sunil is occupied these days as an adviser and mentor for technology start-ups. Whatever time this leaves him with, Sunil spends on social initiatives and playing music with his buddies. The evolution of music band NYOTH Not Yet Over the Hill with his college buddies will make anyone realize origin of the story of super hit Bollywood Film Rock On. Sunil is a family man happily married to Anita and has two lovely daughters Tara Nanda and Meera Nanda.

Sunil has been very active within the BITS Alumni community. As a trustee of a BITS Alumni Trust founded by his batch, Sunil is currently spearheading the multi crore Pilani Resource Centre (PRC) which runs multiple programs for the benefit of the local community – both Pilani and nearby villages. At PRC, the programs range from Vocational Training for local youth, Senior Health Care for senior citizens, Science Education for school children, Computer Literacy for local youth etc. etc.

On 11 Nov 2017, in a glittering function held at BITS Pilani NAB Auditorium, Proud to be BITSian Sunil Nanda was conferred the Prof L K Maheshwari Foundation Distinguished Alumnus Award 2017. He also gave a talk titled “The Profound, the Elegant and the Useful”which got a thunderous round of applause. A whole lot of classmates of Sunil Nanda from different parts of India and across the globe had descended at Pilani to cheer up and watch emotion choked buddy Sunil Nanda receiving this coveted BITS Pilani distinguished alumnus award.

For more details about BITSAA see https://www.bitsaa.org/

About BITSAA: BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA) has emerged as one of the strongest alumni networks of any university. BITSAA International engages in charitable and educational activities by raising funds for setting up endowments, creating scholarships, rewarding teaching and research and generally promoting the development of resources at Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani, Dubai, Goa & Hyderabad campuses. BITSAA International also aims to strengthen the ties, friendship and communication amongst former students, alumni faculty and friends of the Institute. BITSAA International provides a number of channels for people to stay connected with each other and with Birla Institute of Technology & Science. Notable other alumni initiatives for BITS Pilani include Guru Dakshina program by 70-75 batch to honour former faculty members, Prof Venkateswaran Faculty Excellence award by Karthik Krishna, Atma Nirbara multi crore Pilani Resource Centre by 75-80 batch alumni and many more.

Prof BR Natarajan
BITS Pilani Alumnus
Pilani Rajasthan India 333031
Phone: +91-9799476406
Email: brnatarajan@bitsaa.org
Website: https://www.bitsaa.org/

This release was published on openPR.