embedUR Systems Launches ModelNova Edge AI Hub in Chennai

embedUR systemshas launched ModelNova, an Edge AI platform ecosystem, and set up an Edge Intelligence Centre in Chennai as part of its ₹500 crore investment in Tamil Nadu. The company said the centre will support on-device intelligence across the telecom, industrial, and semiconductor sectors and will have a capacity of 100 engineers.

The launch marks the third phase of embedUR’s five-year investment plan in the state. The company plans to increase its headcount from 400 to over 550 engineers by the end of 2026, with hiring focused on embedded engineering and AI roles.

Rajesh Subramaniam, Founder and CEO of embedUR systems, said, “By anchoring our platform and IP creation here, we are positioning Tamil Nadu as a core node in our global innovation strategy.”

He added to AIM that the company is already working with Silicon Valley-based startup Alif and is demonstrating a use case at Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany. Using ModelNova Fusion Studio, embedUR fine-tuned a facial recognition model and directly deployed it onto Alif hardware built on an Arm U85 core. “It simplifies the need for multiple tools for labelling, dataset collection and training, allowing users to move faster from proof of concept to productisation,” he said. 

ModelNova is a library of ready-to-use Edge AI models and datasets. Fusion Studio is a desktop environment for training, labelling and customising those models. The company said the combined workflow could reduce Edge AI development time by up to 75%.

Subramaniam also said the India hub will focus on building optimised models for industrial, automotive and logistics sectors over the next two to three years. “These will have significant implications for cost reduction and help democratise the technology across different segments,” he said.

The Chennai centre will focus on platform IP development, on-device AI systems engineering and collaboration with global silicon partners, including STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, NXP Semiconductors, Synaptics, and Ceva.

TRB Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions and Commerce, said, “Tamil Nadu is decisively moving up the technology value chain towards deep tech innovation and global IP creation. embedUR’s investment in expanding its R&D and edge intelligence capabilities in Chennai aligns closely with our focus on tech product development.”

embedUR said it will hire embedded engineers, data scientists, machine learning engineers, systems architects and silicon specialists. The company is looking for professionals experienced in deploying applications on MCUs, SoCs, and NPUs.

Addressing skill gaps in India’s embedded AI ecosystem, Subramaniam said the company offers a free version of ModelNova for students. “We encourage students in colleges to try it out and learn from it. This helps them understand our tools even before they join us,” he said. He added that embedUR also trains new hires on its proprietary tools to bring them up to speed quickly.

The company builds embedded software, firmware, and pre-trained AI models used in healthcare, industrial, automotive, and consumer devices.