Sharp to invest Rs 25 cr

Sharp Labs of America, the R&D arm of the $22 billion Sharp Corporation, has outlined plans to invest close to Rs 25 crore in its Indian software and research operations in India over the next two years.

The company has already invested close to Rs 50 crore during the past five years of its operations in India.

Speaking to Business Standard, Jack Van Oosterhout, Sharp Labs of America, president and CEO said: "The Indian centre has admirably grown, delivering in the area of digital imaging and digital document systems which has a direct impact on Sharp's digital copiers, printers, scanners and multi-function peripherals globally. The fresh infusion of funds will catalyse the Indian arm to expand its scope of development into areas like developing embedded software for next generation LCD colour televisions and high-end mobile phones."

The Indian arm in the immediate future will graduate to more critical areas like entire programme management, requirement definitions, optimisations and will also liaise with third party independent software vendors for managing some of its software projects.

The unit in India currently employs 120 professionals at ITPL and with further ramp-up planned over the next year, the company is likely to move into its own campus in Bangalore which will have a capacity for 300 developers.

Added Praveen Kanipakam, president, Sharp Software Development India: "The Indian centre has made significant strides with major deliveries in time with acceptable quality and has had direct impact on Sharp's revenues. The mandate for increased scope of work and our parent's desire for increasing responsibilities are attestations to the confidence espoused in the Indian arm by Sharp Corporation."