India Launches $445M Chip Plant with HCL-Foxconn Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for India Chip Pvt. Ltd., a ₹3,700 crore semiconductor facility being developed in Jewar, Greater Noida by a joint venture between HCL Group (60%) and Foxconn (40%). The plant will function as an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility, with a planned capacity to process 20,000 wafers per month. It is expected to be operational by 2028.

Key Highlights

• Investment: ₹3,700 crore
• Partnership: HCL Group (India) and Foxconn (Taiwan)
• Location: Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), Jewar, Greater Noida
• Timeline: Operational by 2028
• Capacity: 20,000 wafers/month
• Jobs: Estimated 3,500 new employment opportunities

Strategic Importance

• Strengthens India’s semiconductor ecosystem and reduces dependence on imports
• Supports the government’s “Techade” vision of technological self-reliance
• Positions India as a competitive player in the global chip supply chain

This project is being seen as a milestone in India’s push to become a hub for advanced electronics manufacturing, especially amid global supply chain realignments.

Notably, the distinction between an OSAT facility and a semiconductor fabrication plant (fab) is central to understanding India’s chip strategy.

Aspect	OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly & Test)	Fab (Fabrication Plant)
Role in supply chain	Handles post-fabrication processes: cutting wafers into chips, packaging, assembly, and testing	Manufactures chips from raw silicon wafers using advanced processes like lithography, etching, deposition
Complexity	Less capital-intensive; focuses on packaging and quality assurance	Extremely complex; requires cleanrooms, precision tools, and multi-billion-dollar investments
Investment scale	Hundreds of millions of dollars (e.g., India’s ₹3,700 crore plant)	Tens of billions of dollars (TSMC, Intel fabs often exceed $10–20B)
Technology focus	Ensures chips meet specifications, reliability, and performance standards	Actually creates the semiconductor devices (transistors, circuits)
Strategic value	Builds ecosystem resilience, supports fabless companies, and reduces dependency on foreign packaging/testing	Core of semiconductor sovereignty — enables full control of chip design and production
Examples	ASE Group, Amkor, JCET	TSMC (Taiwan), Samsung (Korea), Intel (US)

In short: OSAT = finishing school for chips; Fab = birthplace of chips. India is starting with OSAT to build capacity before attempting full-scale fabs.

HCLSoftware Launches Domino 14.5 with Sovereign AI to Strengthen Data Privacy for Regulated Sectors

HCLSoftware, a global leader in enterprise software solutions, announced today the launch of HCL Domino 14.5. Specifically targeting governments and regulated organizations concerned with their data privacy, HCL Domino 14.5 ushers in significant enhancements to the Domino+ sovereign collaboration portfolio, including the introduction of Domino IQ, a sovereign AI extension to the Domino platform that protects an organization's data privacy and ensures information security.

Users of the HCL Domino platform leverage powerful AI to automate tasks, analyse data, and more, by choosing the models that their organization or trusted sources have built. With compliance measures such as the European AI Act aimed at shaping the development and use of artificial intelligence within the EU, Domino IQ enables organizations to have more fine-grained control over AI investments and, additionally, remove their reliance on foreign cloud-based services.

“In an uncertain geopolitical landscape, governments and regulated organizations, such as private banks, are increasingly concerned about their data sovereignty and digital independence”, said Richard Jefts, Executive Vice President and General Manager, HCLSoftware. “The importance of data sovereignty and avoiding unnecessary foreign government influence extends beyond SaaS solutions and AI. Specifically for collaboration - the sensitive data within email, chat, video recordings and documents, With the launch of Domino+ 14.5, HCLSoftware is helping over 200+ government agencies safeguard their sensitive data.”

"Today more than ever, true digital sovereignty is the key to Europe's digital future. That’s why at IONOS we are proud to provide the sovereign cloud infrastructure for HCL’s sovereign collaboration solutions. Our platform is powerful, secure, and – above all – free from foreign access. Together, we are setting an example for responsible innovation and digital self-determination, a key factor for companies and institutions in regulated industries with particularly sensitive requirements," said Achim Weiss, CEO of IONOS, the leading European hosting provider and trusted cloud enabler.

Other key capabilities of this Domino+ launch include:

• BSI certification of Information Security and use of Security Event and Incident Management (SEIM) tools.
• Compliance with the European Accessibility Act for web-based, business user experiences.
• Ready to deploy, and enhanced sovereign chat and meetings solutions.

HCLSoftware is a global leader in software innovation and the software division of HCLTech. We develop, market, sell, and support transformative solutions across various industries, including business and industry, intelligent operations, total experience, data and analytics, and cybersecurity. Our commitment to customer success and our core values of integrity, inclusion, value creation, people-centricity, and social responsibility drive us to deliver best-in-class software products that empower organizations to achieve their goals. With a rich heritage of pioneering spirit, HCLSoftware serves more than 20,000 organizations, including a majority of the Fortune 100 and almost half of the Fortune 500. Learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals.

UP Govt Allocates 48 Acre Land to HCL-Foxconn Semiconductor Plant

The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated approximately 48 acres of land to the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor plant at a new location under the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), which is part of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. This decision was made to cut down on infrastructure and procedural delays that were anticipated at the previously allocated site in Sector 10.

The new land parcel is located in Sector 28 of YEIDA, which already has the required infrastructure due to the presence of the Medical Device Park and other industries. This move is expected to expedite the establishment of the semiconductor plant, which will be the first chip production unit in Uttar Pradesh.

The HCL-Foxconn joint venture, Vama Sundari Investments, plans to invest around ₹3,706 crore in an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility, generating close to 4,000 jobs. This development is a significant step towards bolstering India's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.

The new location for the plant is in Sector 28 of YEIDA, which already has the necessary infrastructure due to the presence of the Medical Device Park and other Industries. This strategic move is expected to expedite the establishment of the semiconductor plant, making it the first chip production unit in Uttar Pradesh.

The HCL-Foxconn joint venture, known as Vama Sundari Investments, is a collaboration between the HCL Group and Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India. This partnership aims to establish an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Uttar Pradesh, India. The project is expected to involve an investment of around ₹3,706 crore and create approximately 4,000 jobs.

HCLSoftware's Startup SYNC Announces 1st-Ever Startup Cohort Program Focused on Retail and E-commerce Innovation

HCLSoftware, the software division of HCLTech and a leading global provider of enterprise software solutions, today announced the successful launch of its first-ever startup cohort program, designed to foster innovation within the retail and e-commerce industry. This program, run by HCL Startup SYNC, aims to identify new software trends and create synergies with HCLSoftware's existing products and platforms.

Building Partnerships for a Thriving Future

The program kicked off with comprehensive marketing campaigns to attract promising startups across key challenge areas, including omnichannel & customer experience, supply chain & traceability, and business intelligence & personalization. From a pool of nearly 100 applications, 25 startups were chosen to pitch their solutions. Ultimately, seven cutting-edge companies were shortlisted for the program: 

1. SaleAssist (India),
2. AiCodePro (India), 
3. Tasq.AI (Israel), 
4. Footprint Labs (Australia), 
5. Houston Analytics (Finland), 
6. Synthiq (UK), and 
7. Tip Top Technologies (USA).

“Together, through partnerships fostered by our program, we can chart a course to a thriving future where innovation propels progress, and enterprise software becomes the wind in the sails of a more connected, efficient and prosperous world,” said Kalyan Kumar (KK), Chief Product Officer at HCLSoftware.

Selected startups are currently undergoing an onboarding process and have begun collaborative discussions with HCLSoftware’s product teams. These discussions aim to finalize use cases, pave the way for joint development efforts, and ultimately build comprehensive solutions that address critical retail and e-commerce challenges.

For more information about the HCLSoftware Startup Cohort program, please visit: https://www.hcl-software.com/resources/partner-connect/sync/retail-cohort

HCL Software, the software division of HCLTech is a global leader in software innovation. We develop, market, sell, and support transformative solutions across business and industry, intelligent operations, total experience, data and analytics, and cybersecurity.

Built on a rich heritage of pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to customer success, we deliver best-in-class software products that empower organizations to achieve their goals. Our core values of integrity, inclusion, value creation, people centricity, and social responsibility guide everything we do.

HCL Software serves more than 20,000 organizations, including a majority of the Fortune 100 and almost half of the Fortune 500.

Indian Govt Mulls Working With TCS, HCL and Tech Mahindra to Develop Quantum Tech Software Under Rs 6,000 Crore Scheme

The Indian Government has taken a significant step towards advancing quantum technologies. The National Quantum Mission (NQM), approved on 19th April 2023, is a comprehensive initiative with a budget of Rs.6003.65 crore allocated from 2023-24 to 2030-31. The mission's objectives are to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology within 8 years.

The NQM aims to create a vibrant and innovative ecosystem for Quantum Technology (QT) in India, which will include the development of high-sensitivity magnetometers, atomic clocks for precision timing, communications, navigation, and quantum materials for device fabrication¹. It also plans to establish secure quantum communications over long distances and multi-node quantum networks with quantum memories.

In a latest now, the government is looking to work with Information Technology (IT) services majors like Tata Consultancy Services, HCL and Tech Mahindra to develop software for quantum technologies under the NQM, which will support Indian startups and scientists working in the emerging area.

Collaborating with leading technology companies like Tata Consultancy Services, HCL, and Tech Mahindra could significantly contribute to the mission's success by leveraging their expertise in software development and IT services. This partnership would potentially accelerate the R&D efforts and help India become one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA).

The NQM is expected to benefit various sectors including communication, health, finance, and energy, with applications in drug design, space, banking, security, and more. It aligns with national priorities such as Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

"We are going to involve our software companies like TCS, HCL, Tech Mahindra etc., into this effort. We want them to do research on quantum technologies because there's a huge amount of algorithms required for quantum,” Ajai Chowdhry, co-founder of HCL and chairman of the mission governing board of the National Quantum Mission said in a statement to a media outlet.

Mr Chowdhry further said that while the mission is cementing up plans to set up four separate hubs for — 1) quantum hardware, 2) quantum encryption, 3) sensors, and 4) materials — by August, these centres are then expected to start the disbursal of onward funding to startups and researchers by September.

Each of these four hubs will be created at a top research institute like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) or Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and be set up as a non-profit company.

The scheme will likely involve creating a robust infrastructure for quantum research, developing quantum-resistant encryption methods, and training a skilled workforce to meet the demands of this emerging technology. It's a significant investment in the future of India's technological landscape, positioning the country as a global contender in the quantum race.

The NQM is expected to benefit various sectors including communication, health, finance, and energy, with applications in drug design, space, banking, security, and more. It aligns with national priorities such as Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

In the global arena, the U.S. has been a major player in quantum research, with significant investments and the development of quantum computers. China has announced a substantial investment of $15 billion in quantum technology, positioning itself as a leader in the field.

The EU plans to spend $7.2 billion in public funding on quantum initiatives, with Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden being among the top investors.

Although lacking a national strategy, Australia too has several R&D initiatives, including the Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence and the Sydney Quantum Academy.

HCL Group and UpLink Announce 10 Winning Aquapreneurs of Zero Water Waste Challenge

• The Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative is a five-year $15 million investment to drive freshwater sector innovation from HCL, a leading global conglomerate.
• The 10 winning Aquapreneurs were selected from a pool of 192 global applicants
• The winners will receive a financial award from a total pool of 1.9 million CHF in funding to scale their start-ups and deliver freshwater solutions worldwide.
• Witnessed participation from diverse regions, with notable contributions from Africa (16%), Asia (18%), Europe (13%), and other global regions
• Of the winners this year, two are from India, four are from Europe, two from South America and two are from the United States of America.

HCL Group and UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, have together announced the top 10 water-focussed entrepreneurs who will receive a financial award from a total pool of 1.9 million CHF as part of the Zero Water Waste Challenge. HCL Group committed $15 million investment in total to drive freshwater sector innovation for five years until 2027. In less than a year, HCL Group’s commitment saw a 10x return on its investment as the first cohort of ‘Aquapreneurs’ collectively raised $54.5 million after joining the UpLink Innovation Ecosystem.

The Zero Water Waste Challenge is the second out of five innovation challenges, under HCL Group and UpLink’s Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative. The focus of this year’s challenge aimed at capturing and protecting freshwater supply, water reuse and recycling of materials and saving water in agriculture.

Top 10 water-focused entrepreneurs or “Aquapreneurs” were selected from a pool of 192 global applicants. Out of these, most of the applications were from Africa (16%), Asia (18%) and Europe (13%). These Innovators come from eight different countries and are bringing cutting edge innovative solutions in areas such as greywater reuse, rainwater capture, advanced filtration, precision agriculture, and data analytics and AI.

Announcing the winners, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech said, "In light of the current global climate change crisis and increasing scarcity of freshwater resources, the urgent need for innovative solutions to manage our freshwater supplies cannot be overlooked. These innovations reshape our approach to water, optimizing its use and conservation. HCL stands committed to supporting these innovations for a positive global impact. Congratulations to the winners of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative 2024.”

Climate change, pollution and overuse pose a grave threat to the planet’s freshwater supplies”, said Olivier Schwab, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. “UpLink and HCL are building an innovation ecosystem around early-stage, water-focused entrepreneurs that will provide them with the resources, expertise and vital funding they need to thrive. The solutions created by these 'Aquapreneurs' will play a crucial role in bringing about the transformative change required to shape a sustainable, water-resilient future for all.”

Two of the top 10 innovators were selected to present their solutions at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos in 2023:

1. “We are thrilled and humbled to be recognized as a Zero Water Waste challenge winner,” said Karina Peña, CEO and Co-founder of FieldFactors, “joining this cohort will allow us to bring our technology to the global stage, increasing community resilience to the impacts of climate change.” FieldFactors is a water technology start-up providing circular solutions for urban water management and climate adaptation. Specializing in climate change adaptation, the company designs and implements integrated solutions to combat urban flooding, drought, and heat stress, fostering biodiversity with green space.
2. “Being named an Aquapreneur is validation for our vision to eliminate urban water pollution” said Asim R. Bhalerao, CEO of Fluid Analytics, “we look forward to working with HCL and UpLink, World Economic Forum to bring our vision to life globally.” Fluid Analytics Inc. is a water analytics company committed to addressing urban water pollution. With unique mathematical and machine-learning models trained on diverse datasets, Fluid Analytics Inc. has successfully deployed solutions, monitoring over 1.5 billion litres of urban water pollution and enabling the treatment and reuse of 800 million litres daily.

The other entrepreneurs that were awarded prize money from HCL Group and support from UpLink are:

3. Juan Carlos Escobar, CEO and Co-Founder and Rina Martínez, Co-Founder of AQUAKIT SRL, (Bolivia) – A grey water treatment technology that enables the recycling of household greywater for non-potable uses and reduces wastewater emissions.
4. Amira Cheniour, Co-Founder and CEO and Taher Mestiri, Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer of SEABEX SAS (France) – An AI-powered precision irrigation solution that uses a digital twin to help farmers produce more food with less water.
5. Gokul Krishna Govindu, CEO of SmartTerra (India) – An AI-powered analytics software designed to analyse data and reduce water losses in city-scale and built environment networks.
6. Trupti Jain, co-founder of Naireeta Services Private Ltd (India) - A community-based rainwater harvesting technology that filters, injects and stores rainwater for use in dry seasons.
7. Mulundu Sichone, CEO at PYDRO (Germany) – A cost-effective self-powered smart flow meter for water pipes, helping to reduce water leaks, prevent pipe bursts and perform quality checks in real-time and 24/7.
8. Laurence Battaille, CEO and Gregoire de Hemptinne, Co-founder of SHAYP (Belgium) - An IoT-enabled SaaS solution that monitors water consumption in real estate buildings in real-time helping building managers to eliminate leaks and related damages.
9. Greg Newbloom, CEO and founder of Membrion (United States) – A ceramic desalination technology that removes metals, minerals and salts from harsh industrial wastewater - enabling the water to be recycled in a cost-effective and energy efficient manner.
10. Jaime de la Cruz Gonzales, CEO of Kran Nanobubble, (Chile) – A nanobubble technology solution optimizing water efficiency in agriculture, water treatment, and aquaculture.

In addition to the financial reward, winners will receive exclusive access to events, projects, and communities led by the World Economic Forum and partners.

About UpLink

UpLink is the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, designed to unlock an ‘entrepreneur revolution’ for people and planet by supporting start-ups with innovative solutions for the world’s most pressing issues, as outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Launched at the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Annual Meeting in Davos in partnership with Deloitte and Salesforce, UpLink builds bridges between entrepreneurs and the investors, experts and partners who can help scale their ventures. UpLink sources innovations through a competition framework known as innovation challenges. UpLink has now run more than 50 challenges and identified over 450 entrepreneurs with innovative solutions across critical SDG areas including freshwater, health, food, ocean, plastics, education, climate and more.

HCL Group's Learning Platform GUVI Partners with IIT-Madras Pravartak to Launch Multilingual CAD Courses

GUVI Geek Network Pvt. Ltd., a leading online learning platform of HCL Group, introduces two groundbreaking Computer-Aided Design (CAD) courses curated exclusively for civil and mechanical engineers. These industry-certified programs, endorsed by IIT Madras (IITM) Pravartak and Autodesk, equip learners with cutting-edge CAD Automation using python skills essential for excellence in their fields. What sets these courses apart is GUVI's innovative approach to language inclusivity, enabling learners to engage with coding in English and Tamil, fostering a truly multilingual learning experience.

GUVI is at the forefront of delivering innovative and accessible e-learning solutions in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Recognizing the lack of vernacular language learning options, GUVI offers Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and ten additional languages alongside English. This inclusive approach revolutionizes education, democratizing access and providing equal opportunities to learners across the nation.

The courses for Civil Engineers and Mechanical Engineering aspirants equip learners with essential CAD skills. Civil engineering students gain hands-on experience in Architectural and Construction planning, 3D Modeling, Building Information Modeling, Structural analysis, Construction documentation, CAD Automation with Python using industry-standard tools like AutoCAD, BIM, Revit, 3ds Max, Vray, STAAD.Pro and Building Estimation & Costing. Mechanical engineering participants master CAD tools such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CATIA v5, ANSYS, NX CAM and GD&T to create 3D models, perform simulations, optimize design and CAD Automation with Python. Both courses offer a one-month internship with certification for practical industry experience, improving career prospects.

GUVI Courses are more into industry specific training where Mechanical learners can get into product design, automotive design, CNC Programming, CAE engineering and Research and development for mechanical fields and Civil learners can get training in building design, interior design, advanced BIM, Urban planning and Structural design and analysis.

The courses are delivered entirely online, allowing learners to study at their own pace and convenience. Spanning nine months, the courses feature weekend classes, catering to the busy schedules of working professionals and students. This flexible format enables individuals to pursue their education while managing their current commitments. Both courses also include GUVI's Zen Class, a premium offering job assistance upon completion. Explore the CAD Civil Course here - https://bit.ly/43RSzPQ & CAD Mechanical Course here - https://bit.ly/3XodesV

With the grand launch of CAD programs, Mr Arun Prakash, Founder & CEO of GUVI, said, “The IITM Pravartak & Autodesk Certified CAD programs are the ideal solutions for the skill-gap between Mechanical, Civil industry requirements and student capabilities. With native language-Tamil and English as the medium of instruction throughout the course program, we aim to launch proficient CAD Engineers in large scale along with best career guidance & project centric upskilling methods”.

GUVI offers learners the unique opportunity to receive training from industry experts from renowned companies such as Ashok Leyland, Renault–Nissan, Larsen and Toubro, DLF, URC, Tata Projects, AECom, Bosch, Ford, Hinduja, and Hyundai. These professionals leverage their extensive experience and expertise to share real-world insights, industry best practices, and practical examples. The inclusive approach of these courses offers a starting point for those learners interested in these fields.

“Our CAD courses are not only well accredited by Autodesk and IITM Pravartak, but are also perfectly aligned with the latest needs of both the Civil and Mechanical industry. Our Zen class learners with high aspirations will face the industry with confidence through gained skills meeting the requirements of both industries”, Mr Balamurugan SP, Co-founder, GUVI, said.

Recently, GUVI also launched an extraordinary opportunity that allows all individuals to positively impact the lives of career aspirants, working professionals, college students, and kids while earning a generous affiliate income on eligible purchases made by their referred users through GUVI’s Affiliate Program. The affiliates who sign up will have a better opportunity to earn advertising income as commissions, for the purchases made in this attribution period by each referred user. To know more about the GUVI’s Affiliate Program, click here - https://bit.ly/3p5oKfT

About GUVI Geek Technology: GUVI, an HCL Group company is one of India’s leading integrated edtech platforms incubated by IIT – Madras, offering technical courses created by industry experts in vernacular languages. Started as an informative YouTube channel in 2011, GUVI today provides affordable technical education in multiple languages and is trusted by 2 million+ learners, and 600+ corporates across 30 countries.

Through its self-paced learning courses and instructor-led programs, GUVI brings real-life industry exposure to its learner community, which includes students, job aspirants, and tech professionals helping them achieve their career goals. For more information, visit www.guvi.in

About HCL Group

Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including introducing the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL enterprise has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare, and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCL Technologies, and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$12.8 billion with over 223,438 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com

Atal Incubation Centre-Shiv Nadar University Calls for Start-up Pitches; Onboards Dassault Systemes, HCL Technologies as Partners

Atal Incubation Centre at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR (AIC-SNU), supported by NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (Government of India), has launched the fourth edition of its ‘Venture Challenge’ – a closed-door contest for new technology start-ups or aspiring entrepreneurs to win AIC-SNU’s end-to-end support for growth of their business ideas.

AIC-SNU has joined hands with Dassault Systèmes and HCL Technologies as Technology/Knowledge Partners to provide winners of the ‘Venture Challenge’ contest extended support from the conceptual stage to actualization of their business concepts. Both partners will help the chosen start-ups to scale their ideas, provide technical support, market guidance and access to their networks of key contacts for growth. Additionally, the best start-ups that with breakthrough/disruptive innovation, collective intelligence, or those that aim to positively impact the society will get the chance to participate in the global pitch of Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE Lab. Upon further selection, the winning start-ups will be accelerated by the company at global level.

Applications are invited by start-ups in fields including but not limited to:

• Robotic Process Automation, Robotic Surgery, Drones
• Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, AR/VR applications, Data Management
• Biotech & Life Sciences, Health-tech, Ed-tech
• Electric Vehicles
• Embedded Products, Edge Computing, Quantum Computing
• Marine and Petrochemical, Aerospace, Automotive

AIC-SNU will run a 12-month incubation program for the selected start-ups, during which it will provide support including physical and intellectual resources, trainings, access to industry mentors, opportunities of interactions with other business leaders, access to angel investors for capital, etc.

The selection criteria for inducting start-ups will include execution capability of founders, innovativeness of the idea, scalability, unit economics and the possible impact.

Speaking about the Incubator’s broader objectives, Anubha Bali, Managing Director of AIC-SNU, said: “Fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial culture form the cornerstones of AIC-SNU and Shiv Nadar University. Our constant endeavour remains to build knowledge for the future, to push new discoveries into the world and to positively impact lives. We are delighted to collaborate with two like-minded partners - Dassault Systèmes and HCL Technologies - to help us cradle the most promising new start-ups.”

The synergetic research and technology resources of Shiv Nadar University Delhi NCR, including access to global researchers, leading academics, 150+ cutting-edge labs and 9 research centers, among other enabling attributes, make AIC-SNU conducive for technology start-ups to thrive.

Deepak NG, Managing Director – India, Dassault Systemes, said: “At Dassault Systemes in India, it is our endeavor to empower, incubate innovative technology ideas, and develop the teams into promising business start-ups of tomorrow. The Venture Challenge’ of Atal Incubation Center- Shiv Nadar University this year will be run on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with winning start-ups getting an opportunity to pitch their ideas in the quarterly 3DEXPERIENCE Lab pitch globally and an opportunity to be incubated and mentored in the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab network worldwide.”

Anoop Tiwari, Senior Corporate Vice President, Digital Process Operations, HCL Technologies, said: “Nurturing the millennial aspirations that drive the very foundation of the innovation ecosystem is a constant endeavour of HCL Technologies. With an increasing reliance of organizations on solutions such as RPA and AI, it is imperative that enterprises look forward to adapt and quickly innovate. HCL Technologies is delighted to collaborate with Atal Incubation Centre at Shiv Nadar University to launch Venture Challenge that will provide young entrepreneurs and budding start-ups an opportunity to showcase new technologies and their impact on our everyday lives.”

Recently, AIC-SNU also entered partnerships with leading investors networks, Agility Venture Partners, Indian Angel Network (IAN) and 100X.VC, to help budding and new start-ups seek capital funding. AIC-SNU has already incubated more than 30 start-ups since Shiv Nadar University was awarded the prestigious Atal Incubation Center grant by the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog (Government of India) in the very first round in 2017.

HCL Technologies Named a Prestigious World’s Best Employer by Forbes

HCL Technologies, (HCL), a leading global technology company, has been named by Forbes as one of The World’s Best Employers for 2020, honoring HCL among the top global employers in the world. In addition to being ranked number 30 on the list, HCL is recognized as the only multinational company that is headquartered in India to be featured in the top 50. 

Forbes’ The World’s Best Employers for 2020 list recognizes the most admired workplaces around the world as voted by the people who know them best – their employees. HCL is recognized for its outstanding work environment in every assessment category, including employee satisfaction with the company’s COVID-19 response, as well as the company’s image, economic footprint, talent development and career opportunities, gender equality and social responsibility. 

“We dedicate this prestigious recognition to our employees as all 159,000 ideapreneurs drive our brand with enthusiasm, passion and innovation. This distinction is reflective of our people-centric culture and commitment, deep rooted in our 44 years of business around the globe,” said Apparao VV, Chief Human Resources Officer, HCL Technologies. “We’re very proud of what we have built together and will continue to empower our people, clients and communities to help them achieve their professional goals in an environment filled with creativity, freedom, inclusiveness, ideapreneurship and innovation." 

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to compile the ranking by surveying 160,000 full-time and part-time workers from 58 countries that are working for businesses with operations in multiple nations or regions. Surveys were conducted on a rolling basis from June to July 2020 and participants were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family, while ranking their satisfaction with their employers in multiple categories that are important to today’s modern and competitive work environment. The complete list features 750 global corporations headquartered in 45 countries.

To see the full Forbes The World’s Best Employer List visit here: https://www.forbes.com/lists/worlds-best-employers/#23688cab1e0c

 

About HCL Technologies
 

HCL Technologies (HCL) empowers global enterprises with technology for the next decade, today. HCL’s Mode 1-2-3 strategy, based on its deep-domain industry expertise, customer-centricity and entrepreneurial culture of Ideapreneurship™, enables businesses to transform into next-gen enterprises.

HCL offers its services and products through three business units: IT and Business Services (ITBS), Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) and Products & Platforms (P&P). ITBS enables global enterprises to transform their businesses through offerings in the areas of applications, infrastructure, digital process operations and next generational digital transformation solutions. ERS offers engineering services and solutions in all aspects of product development and platform engineering. P&P provides modernized software products to global clients for their technology and industry specific requirements. Through its cutting-edge co-innovation labs, global delivery capabilities and broad global network, HCL delivers holistic services in various industry verticals, categorized as Financial Services, Manufacturing, Technology & Services, Telecom & Media, Retail & CPG, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Public Services.

 

As a leading global technology company, HCL takes pride in its diversity, social responsibility, sustainability and education initiatives. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2020 HCL had consolidated revenue of US$ 10.02 billion. Its 159,682 ideapreneurs operate out of 50 countries. For more information, visit www.hcltech.com

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210223006272/en/

HCL Signs 5-Year Digital Workplace Services Agreement with Airbus

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, today announced it has signed a five-year Digital Workplace Services Agreement with Airbus. HCL will establish a modernized digital workplace to enhance the user experience and service quality for the majority of Airbus employees globally. HCL was selected as Airbus’ preferred partner as it was able to offer the broadest combination of standard functionality and innovation capabilities to generate greater efficiency and improved time to market. HCL’s Fluid Workplace Model will enable Airbus to deploy the latest digital technologies and will rapidly simplify Airbus’ existing IT processes and optimization of delivery costs, using unique end-to-end management services to cover the information and operational technology landscape. 

“We’re delighted to be working with Airbus as a key strategic partner in its digital workplace transformation journey. The combination of HCL’s scale transformational expertise and management capabilities of IT and OT landscape will enable Airbus to remain at the forefront of innovation and deliver leading-edge user experiences,” said Sandeep Saxena, Executive Vice President (UK&I, France & Benelux), HCL Technologies. 

About HCL Technologies 

HCL Technologies (HCL) empowers global enterprises with technology for the next decade, today. HCL’s Mode 1-2-3 strategy, based on its deep-domain industry expertise, client-centricity and entrepreneurial culture of Ideapreneurship™, enables businesses to transform into next-gen enterprises. 

HCL offers its services and products through three business units: IT and Business Services (ITBS), Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) and Products & Platforms (P&P). ITBS enables global enterprises to transform their businesses through offerings in the areas of applications, infrastructure, digital process operations and next generation digital transformation solutions. ERS offers engineering services and solutions in all aspects of product development and platform engineering. P&P provides modernized software products to global clients for their technology and industry specific requirements. Through its cutting-edge co-innovation labs, global delivery capabilities and broad global network, HCL delivers holistic services in various industry verticals, categorized as Financial Services, Manufacturing, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, Life Sciences and Healthcare, and Public Services. 

As a leading global technology company, HCL takes pride in its diversity, social responsibility, sustainability, and education initiatives. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2020 HCL had consolidated revenue of US$ 10.02 billion. Its 159,682 Ideapreneurs operate out of 50 countries. 

For more information, visit www.hcltech.com.

HCL Technologies Announces Intent to Acquire Leading Australian IT Solutions Company, DWS Limited

Strengthens leadership position as strategic innovation partner of choice in Australia and New Zealand market

HCL Technologies, (HCL), a leading global technology company, today announced its intent to acquire DWS Limited (ASX: DWS), a leading Australian IT, business and management consulting group. As the IT industry continues to evolve and the growing demand for digital strategies increases, DWS, with over 700 employees and offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Canberra, delivers business and technology innovation to large clients across a spectrum of verticals.

The DWS Group, with FY20 revenue at A$ 167.9 million, provides a wide range of IT services including Digital Transformation, Application development & support, Program & Project Management and Consulting. The acquisition of DWS will strongly enhance HCL’s contribution to Digital initiatives in Australia and New Zealand while strengthening HCL’s client portfolio across key industries.

“We are excited for this expansion of HCL Technologies in Australia and New Zealand and are confident that our combined strengths will further accelerate the digital transformation journeys of our clients and innovations for their end customers,” said Michael Horton, Executive Vice President & Country Manager, Australia & New Zealand, HCL Technologies. “HCL has invested in the region for over 20 years and is committed to enabling digitilisation and growing the local ecosystem. DWS has forged a sterling reputation, powered by highly talented consultants who enable organizations to be at the cutting edge of technology. We look forward to welcoming the DWS team to HCL and creating enhanced global learning and career opportunities for them.”

“We are delighted the DWS team is joining HCL. As a leading name in the global technology industry and with over 150,000 employees across 49 countries, they bring best in class technology capabilities, global scale and a wide network of clients and partners across industries,” said Danny Wallis, CEO and Managing Director, DWS. “This acquisition represents an outstanding outcome for all DWS stakeholders: shareholders, employees, clients and other business partners.”

HCL currently employs 1600 people in major cities, including Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. HCL has been delivering ground-breaking technology solutions to some of the region’s largest companies and looks forward to strengthening its unique delivery model and differentiated offerings in the region. The transaction is expected to close in December 2020, subject to closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

About HCL Technologies

HCL Technologies (HCL) empowers global enterprises with technology for the next decade today. HCL’s Mode 1-2-3 strategy through its deep-domain industry expertise, customer-centricity and entrepreneurial culture of ideapreneurship™ enables businesses transform into next-gen enterprises.

HCL offers its services and products through three business units - IT and Business Services (ITBS), Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) and Products & Platforms (P&P). ITBS enables global enterprises to transform their businesses through offerings in areas of Applications, Infrastructure, Digital Process Operations and next generational digital transformation solutions. ERS offers engineering services and solutions in all aspects of product development and platform engineering while under P&P, HCL provides modernized software products to global clients for their technology and industry specific requirements. Through its cutting-edge co-innovation labs, global delivery capabilities and broad global network, HCL delivers holistic services in various industry verticals, categorized under Financial Services, Manufacturing, Technology & Services, Telecom & Media, Retail & CPG, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Public Services.

As a leading global technology company, HCL takes pride in its diversity, social responsibility, sustainability and education initiatives. As of 12 months ended June 30, 2020, HCL has a consolidated revenue of US$9.93 billion and its 150,287 ideapreneurs operate out of 49 countries. For more information, visit https://www.hcltech.com/

About DWS Limited

DWS is an ASX-listed Australian-based IT services company which provides a suite of integrated solutions, including consulting services, such as custom application development and project management and digital solutions, such as data automation and design services. DWS was established in 1991 by current CEO, Danny Wallis, and was listed on the ASX in June 2006. DWS is headquartered in Melbourne with Australian-based offices located in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.

To view the full press release, please click on the link below.

https://www.hcltech.com/press-releases/press-releases-business/hcl-technologies-announces-intent-acquire-leading-australian

HCL Tech's Vijaykumar to Chair WEF IT Governors Community

Leading Indian IT firm HCL Technologies' CEO C Vijayakumar was on Wednesday named as chairman of the World Economic Forum's IT Governors community.

The announcement was made at the Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

The Forum's IT Governors community convenes CEOs of the world's top information technology companies in order to help them responsibly shape the future of their industry. It acts as a platform for setting industry priorities, building shared understanding, and coordinating actions that lead to results.

Under Vijayakumar's stewardship, the community will prioritise dialogue and action around the most pressing issues impacting the industry's future progress, like talent re-skilling, data governance, security and privacy, responsible proliferation of artificial intelligence, amongst others.

"We're very pleased to have Mr. Vijayakumar chairing our efforts this year in the IT Governors, which will focus on responsible technology leadership. We are looking forward to next steps and tackling urgent challenges together," said Eric White, Head of the IT Industry at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

"In today's world where technology is at the heart of virtually every individual, social, policy and corporate action and by that means at the very center of human progress, it is critical that the IT Industry remains a beacon of responsible leadership," said Vijayakumar.

"With that vision as our north-star, I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the IT Governors community this year on addressing prioritised issues of immediate and impending relevance as well as launch some new initiatives for cross-industry collaboration around data privacy, skilling and responsible use of new disruptive technologies," he added. PTI BJ

PowerObjects, an HCL Tech Company Launches Dedicated Microsoft Business Unit

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, just announced the launch of a dedicated HCL Microsoft Business Unit focused on Microsoft technologies to extend the offerings of Business Applications, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Azure, IoT, AI/Machine Learning and helping employees accomplish more with Microsoft 365 and Windows 10. The HCL Microsoft Business Unit will create intellectual property extending the Microsoft platform for customer-specific scenarios and will also provide additional support to clients in the financial services, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing, retail, and travel industries. The business unit incorporates one of the largest award-winning Microsoft Dynamics practices in the world, PowerObjects, an HCL Technologies Company, and will bring together more than 5,500 professionals, reaching more than 2,000 customers.

"The HCL Microsoft Business Unit is the next phase to bolster HCL's successful and long-standing relationship with Microsoft. Increasingly, customers are making bold strides, incorporating IoT solutions with machine learning for analytics, running this solution in the public cloud and supported by CRM. This business unit combines HCL's specialized services and global reach with Microsoft's powerful cloud and business technologies, making a strong and unique offering for clients. These offerings are coming at a critical time when enterprises are aggressively implementing digital technologies for competitive advantage," said Kalyan Kumar, Corporate Vice President and Global CTO of HCL Technologies.

"Spearheading the HCL Microsoft Business Unit is Don Jones who brings 20+ years of Microsoft experience, having created numerous successful solutions and Go-To-Market campaigns with Microsoft."

Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President at Microsoft said, "By establishing a Microsoft Business Unit, HCL is taking an important step forward in the long-standing partnership between our two companies. As a result, companies will benefit from unique products and services tailored to their digital journey while fostering modern work and collaboration. Together, we will be able to offer our joint customers a rich experience."

IDC named HCL a leader in its Marketscape report: Worldwide Microsoft Implementation Services 2019 Vendor Assessment. Forrester Ranks HCL as a Leader in Dynamics 365. In addition, Microsoft named HCL-PowerObjects as the winner of the Microsoft 2019 Dynamics 365 for Customer Service Partner of the Year and Financial Services Partner of the Year awards.

HCL Digital Concerts - India’s 1st Talent Identification and Nurturing Platform for Indian Classical Performing Arts Unveiled

HCL Concerts, an initiative dedicated to promoting Indian classical performing arts, today unveiled HCL Digital Concerts. A first-of-a-kind initiative, HCL Digital Concerts is aimed at identifying, nurturing and supporting the next generation of talent in the Indian classical performing arts space. It will provide a platform to young and aspiring artists to showcase their talent to the world through a digital medium. HCL will also support the artists in their journey to emerge as the next generation of performers as well as build their web presence.

The selection process for HCL Digital Concerts comprises:

• Inviting entries – artists from all sub-genres including vocals, instrumental and dance across classical, semi-classical, fusion, Sufi-fusion and classical-fusion from across the country are invited to submit their entries at - https://www.hclconcerts.com/digitalconcertsapplication/
  
  
  
  • There is no application fee
  
  
  
  


• Identifying talented performers - 36 artists will be identified by specialized agencies from the overall entry pool, over 12-months.
  
  
  
  • These artists will perform at 12 HCL Digital Concerts (over 12 months) – with three artists or bands per Concert.
  
  
  
  


• Performing with the legends – HCL Digital Concerts will further shortlist the 36 artists to identify Nine top performers who will get an opportunity to share the stage with established legends.
  
  
  
  • Maestros of Indian Classical performing arts - Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Anil Srinivasan and Purbayan Chatterjee are part of the jury that will identify these nine performers
  
  
  
  

Sitar Maestro, Purbayan Chatterjee said, “India has had a long-standing ‘guru-shishya’ parampara that has ensured that senior artists mentor young talent to nurture and sustain the classical arts from generation to generation. I have had the good fortune to do this in my personal capacity, but the opportunity to do this with an entirely new generation of upcoming talent under the aegis of HCL Digital Concerts takes this to an altogether higher level. A platform like HCL Digital Concerts will give emerging artists an opportunity with truly global scale and reach, that was not possible earlier.”

Sundar Mahalingam, Chief Strategy Officer, HCL Corporation said “HCL Digital Concerts is a first-of-a-kind talent identification and nurturing platform that will help connect the younger artists with the connoisseurs of Indian Classical performing arts. I am hopeful that over the next 12 months, we will be able to identify hidden gems and nurture them to eventually emerge as torchbearers of India’s glorious legacy of classical arts.”

HCL Digital Concerts initiative is also creating a program to help these talented artists maximize their potential. This will include building compelling artists’ portfolios, giving them sustained exposure on the HCL Concerts web platforms and helping them connect with other platforms and agencies. HCL Digital Concerts will also train them to leverage the power of social media to engage with and increase their followers.

About HCL Concerts

The conservation and promotion of India’s art and cultural heritage is very close to HCL’s heart. To this end, HCL has been organizing HCL Concerts for 21 years, dedicated to nurturing and promoting talent rooted in the glorious heritage of Indian classical performing arts. Concerts under the umbrella of HCL Concerts are organized at Delhi NCR, Lucknow, Nagpur, Madurai, and Chennai in India and at New York and San Francisco in the US regularly throughout the year. Over 600 artists have graced this platform and have contributed towards reinvigorating the Indian classical performing arts.

Over the years, more platforms have been developed to contribute to the growth of the Indian performing arts ecosystem. Most notable of these are the HCL music App, allowing music lovers across the world a chance to enjoy the most comprehensive collection of classical music from the comforts of their home for free, and HCL Digital Concerts, a talent identification and nurturing program aimed at showcasing the talented and upcoming classical performing artists to a global audience through a digital medium.

~ BusinessWire India

HCL Tech's UK Unit Picks-up Stake in Professional Networking App Kalido for $2 Mn

Indian IT services major HCL Technologies on Thursday said its UK susidiary has picked up minority stake in London-based Kalido.

Operated by London-based Om Mobile Ventures, Kalido empowers its users to provide skills and meet skilled people, with trust at the core of every interaction. Kalido can be used for enterprises, schools, conference organisers and attendees, for setting up a private network.

HCL Technologies UK Ltd will acquire 2.8 million shares of Kalido's parent, Om Mobile Ventures, which would be about 6.64% stake on a fully diluted basis, a regulatory filing said.

The cost of acquisition was USD 0.71 a share, aggregating to about USD 2 million (over Rs 14 crore), it added.

For enterprises, Kalido enables better onboarding for new joiners, greater information sharing and connectivity between existing employees; faster team formation based on people who have specific skills in specific locations; and faster hiring through social connections that already exist between employees and future candidates.

"This investment could provide HCL with an opportunity to expand network building capabilities and features to customers for the newly acquired IBM Connections as well as HCL's Digital Workplace solutions," it said.

Om Mobile Ventures was founded in 2014 and offers a real-time opportunity engine that uses artificial intelligence software to make meaningful connections.

Kalido is currently in pre-revenue product development stage, the filing said.

To recall, in last month HCL confirmed the official close at the end of June 2019 the previously announced acquisition of select IBM products for security, marketing, commerce, and digital solutions.

HCL Technologies Officially Closes Acquisition of Select IBM Products

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, today confirmed the official close at the end of June 2019 the previously announced acquisition of select IBM products for security, marketing, commerce, and digital solutions.

As part of the deal’s close, HCL takes full ownership of the research and development, sales, marketing, delivery, and support for AppScan, BigFix, Commerce, Connections, Digital Experience (Portal and Content Manager), Notes Domino, and Unica.

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, today confirmed the official close at the end of June 2019 the previously announced acquisition of select IBM products for security, marketing, commerce, and digital solutions. As part of the deal’s close, HCL takes full ownership of the research and development, sales, marketing, delivery, and support for AppScan, BigFix, Commerce, Connections, Digital Experience (Portal and Content Manager), Notes Domino, and Unica.

HCL is also formally introducing HCL Software, a new division that will operate this enterprise software product business and meet customer demand. A Business Unit of “Products and Platforms” (Mode 3), HCL Software has successfully delivered more than 340 partner releases and more than 90 HCL releases, including such popular products as Informix 14.10, Domino 10, Workload Automation 9.5. The division aspires to reshape the enterprise software business, focused on innovation and cutting-edge delivery for customer success.

“We are excited for the next phase of the HCL Software Business Unit and are confident that these products will see good growth trajectory backed by our commitment to invest in product innovation coupled with our strong client focus and agile product development,” said C Vijayakumar, President & CEO, HCL Technologies. “In addition, we see tremendous potential for creating compelling ‘as-a-service’ offerings by combining these products with our traditional IT and next gen services.”

“Our mission is to help customers achieve success with their IT investments through relentless innovation of our products,” said Darren Oberst, Corporate Vice President and Head of HCL Software. “We are intensely customer-focused, in our product roadmaps, client advocacy, transparent development processes, high-velocity releases, and consultative sales teams. Our customers will be the ultimate beneficiaries, and we look forward to collaborating with them. We are also pleased to welcome the IBM employees who are joining HCL Technologies.”

HCL welcomes and encourages customers to register at: www.hcltechsw.com/welcome to ensure business continuity. Registration is required to obtain access to customer services, including the Support Portal, E-commerce Sales Portal for software transactions, and access to software downloads and licensing information. Customers can also email software-info@hcl.com for inquiries and assistance.

HCL to Acquire IBM's Software Portfolio for $1.8 Billion

Indian IT major HCL Technologies has announced that it is acquiring a large part of IBM's software portfoliofor about US$1.8 billion.

With this acquisition, HCL will unlock an addressable market of $50 billion since post this acquisition seven IBM products will be added to portfolio of HCL Technologies. The acquisition transaction is expected to close by mid-2019 subject to regulatory approvals.

IBM products included in this acquisition will be -- IBM Appscan, a security-focused application for identifying and managing vulnerabilities in mission-critical applications; IBM BigFix endpoint management and security software; IBM Unica, a cloud-based enterprise marketing automation software; and IBM WebSphere Commerce, an omni-channel commerce platform for B2C and B2B organizations.

Notably, IBM itself has recently acquired Red Hat in a whopping $34-billion deal to accelerate its efforts towards open-source software and technology.

For HCL, the software being acquired is expected to give the company a lift in fast-growing security, marketing and commerce, all of which are strategic to the company, said C Vijayakumar, the company's president and CEO, in a statement.

"The large-scale deployments of these products provide us with a great opportunity to reach and serve thousands of global enterprises across a wide range of industries and markets," Vijayakumar said in that statement.

Darren Oberst, corporate vice president and head of the products and platforms business of HCL, told CRN that the acquisition was part of a long-term strategy by his company to diversify its business.

Founded in 1976, by Shiv Nadar and Arjun Malhotra, HCL is an $8 billion, 42 year-old services company with core competencies in both engineering and software outsourcing and IT outsourcing.

Oberst further said, "About three years ago, we started looking at our growth strategy and how to move away from the labor-intensive software business to provide more value to our clients."

With the acquisition of this software portfolio from IBM, HCL will be able to combine the entrepreneurial capability, speed and performance of a company like HCL with over 100,000 employees worldwide with the software in such a way that will set it apart from its competitors, Oberst said.

"This represents a fundamentally new direction for us," he said. "We're moving into working with software with some of the largest companies in the world. We want to create a set of solutions that very few companies in the world can deliver."

Going forward, HCL Technologies and IBM will continue their long-term relationship where the two sell each other’s technologies, Oberst said.

"It's a win-win," he said. "We provide incredible opportunities for the software customers, and IBM focuses on the incredible opportunities for growth in the future."

The deal, once it closes, is not expected to have a big change in how IBM's business partners work with the software as it becomes part of HCL Technologies, Oberst said.

"There will be no change in these arrangements until formal deal closure, which is expected to happen by mid-2019," he said. "Post deal closure, HCL will work with IBM business partners to sign them up as HCL partners. Working with business partners has always been a core part of HCL’s business philosophy."

For IBM, the divestiture of this part of its software business is a way for the company to better prioritize its investments in more emerging, high-value segments of the IT industry, said John Kelly, IBM senior vice president of cognitive solutions and research, in a statement.

"Over the last four years, we have been prioritizing our investments to develop integrated capabilities in areas such as AI for business, hybrid cloud, cybersecurity, analytics, supply chain and blockchain as well as industry-specific platforms and solutions including health care, industrial IoT and financial services. … We believe the time is right to divest these select collaboration, marketing and commerce software assets, which are increasingly delivered as stand-alone products," Kelly said in that statement.

Recently in June this year, HCL has acquired H&D International Group, a Germany-based IT and engineering services provider. Prior to this, in April this year, US-based software firm Actian announced that it will be acquired by HCL Technologies for $330 million.

To date, HCL has made 13 acquisitions including acquisition of a SAP firm, Axon Group Plc., in 2008 and part of Volvo's IT business in 2016.

Source - CRN

HCL Acquires UK Based ETL Factory Limited to Help Clients Accelerate Data Integration and Migration

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global IT services company, has agreed to buy ETL Factory Limited, doing business as Datawave, a UK–based company that has created an innovative data automation platform which enables enterprise customers execute large scale, complex data–migration and data–integration projects in a leaner, faster and smarter way. The flagship product Datawave, won the Informatica Innovation Award and is also extendable to other platforms, including big data.

“The acquisition of Datawave and its suite of products bolsters HCL’s capabilities to collaborate with clients on their mission–critical data transformation projects, incorporating a culture of DevOps and continuous integration,” said Rahul Singh, President and Head – Financial Services, HCL Technologies. “Datawave also brings in significant banking industry expertise.”

“In a recent market study done by HCL, 81% of organizations said they were overwhelmed with the volume and variety of data needed to drive digital transformation. Datawave’s automation solutions will significantly help our clients accelerate their digital journey through a robust data architecture,” said Anand Birje, Corporate Vice President and Head – Digital & Analytics, HCL Technologies.

“The synergies between Datawave’s customer-centric, enterprise data integration platform and HCL’s technology leadership and deep engineering capabilities will deliver unparalleled value to our clients,” said Mark Butterworth, CEO, Datawave.

Datawave is a leading provider of data migration and integration solutions, focused on automation and digital transformation around Informatica and other similar enterprise data management stacks. The product suite accelerates the end-to-end rollout of data integration builds, allowing enterprises to implement rapid, agile data integration projects in a transformative manner. Datawave’s automated delivery software and related-services guarantee code quality and consistency, ensuring massive reduction in development time, testing and costs, as well as huge productivity gains.

Datawave’s next generation Automation solution has been extensively proven at a Tier 1 global bank enabling an impressive 80% reduction in data transformation effort and timeline thereby saving millions of dollars in both project and on-going capex costs.

Image Source: ShutterStockiistion

HCL to Acquire US-Based Mortgage BPO Provider Urban Fulfillment Services for $30M

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global IT services company, today announced an agreement to acquire Urban Fulfillment Services, LLC, (“UFS”), a provider of mortgage business process & fulfilment services.

UFS is a Limited Liability Company incorporated in USA, founded in 2002. With over 350 highly skilled professionals, UFS operates out of 3 centres in the US, engaged in providing mortgage business process and fulfilment services to its customers.

“The acquisition of Urban Fulfillment Services strengthens HCL’s capabilities in mortgage BPO services, loan fulfillment and debt servicing space,” said Anoop Tiwari, Corporate Vice President and Global Head – Business Services, HCL Technologies.“Combining UFS’ talent and client portfolio with HCL’s deep industry expertise and business acumen, offers us the unique opportunity to provide platform–based services on our own platform, driving transformation through robotics process automation.”

“The synergies between UFS’ client focused and efficient business processing services and HCL’s technology leadership and financial strength will create an unparalleled competitor and leading provider of state-of-the-art services to the enterprise customers,” said Charles S. Sanders, CEO of Urban Lending Solutions. “I am very excited about joining the HCL team and being part of such a capable and progressive company that will deliver the highest level of services to the industry.”

HCL will be acquiring 100% stake in UFS. The total cash consideration for this transaction is up to $30 million, including contingent payments subject to certain financial milestones. Mortgage servicing is a regulated activity in USA and the transaction would require regulatory approvals for obtaining the licenses.

HCL Signs MoU with Government of Andhra Pradesh to Open IT and Training Centre in Vijayawada

Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Mr. Shiv Nadar, Founder & Chairman, HCL & Shiv Nadar Foundation, have signed an MoU to open a state-of-the-art Global IT Development and Training Centre at Vijayawada. The ceremony was attended by senior Government officials and the leadership team of HCL.

HCL aims to hire, employ and train 5000 local residents in the region with a plan to leverage a gender equal workforce. The selected candidates will undergo a rigorous training program by industry experts on skills required for working for global customers of HCL. The centre will also work on developing innovative high-end technologies for global clients. The centre is a part of the State Government’s ambitious plan to promote holistic growth and boost IT investment within the state.

Gracing this occasion, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh said, “The Andhra Pradesh Government is committed to economic development and providing more opportunities to the young workforce of the State. The HCLIT and Training Centre will offer a great platform to local talent in cities like Vijayawada by providing them growth opportunities and ultimately helping contribute to our vision of becoming the bets state in the country by 2029. I would like to congratulate HCL on being a part of this important journey and investing in the upskilling and employment of the local youth”

Commenting on the occasion, Shiv Nadar, Founder & Chairman - HCL & Shiv Nadar Foundation said, “HCL has always been at the forefront of bringing new opportunities to the Indian populace. This is an innovative initiative to reach out to the local talent, refine their skills and make them future ready for IT careers. By leveraging the skilled talent pool available in the city through the HCL Global Centre we can help put Vijayawada on the global IT map. I thank the Government of Andhra Pradesh for their continued support in realizing our goals.”

The creation of Global Centre at Vijayawada is in line with HCL’s strategic vision to expand and create opportunities in non-metro cities. HCL has successfully launched similar initiatives in Lucknow and Madurai in the past and their success has further strengthened this strategic initiative, which is now expanding to Vijayawada.

HCL’s foray into these cities is driven by the availability of quality local talent and scalable infrastructure. At the same time it provides opportunities to local youth in pursuing global careers with the comfort of working from their home cities.