Global cloud and virtualization software and services provider VMware has opened campus in Bengaluru as the California-headquartered company is looking at expanding its R&D strength in India apart from partnering with various government agencies for the Digital India programme.
The new centre with a 438,000 square feet built-up facility has come up with an investment of $120 million. Last year, the NYSE-listed company had proposed to invest $500 million in India over a period of next three years.
“The new facility is a mini-version of the world-wide VMware that is represented in India,” said Pat Gelsinger, chief executive officer of VMWare.
“Today, India represents a substantial element of our global R&D operations in the US and continues to play an important role in our global growth strategy. Our continued support of the Indian government’s ‘Make in India” initiative illustrates the important role that the nation plays in the company’s long-term strategic global growth plans,” he added.
In India, VMWare which reported $6.04 billion in revenues in 2014, has its R&D facilities located in Bengaluru and Pune while the company has presence in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. The R&D team in India plays a vital role in product development in areas of the software-defined data center, hybrid cloud and end-user computing, Gelsinger said. VMware currently employs 3,300 executives in India and is looking at hiring another 500 this year. The growth of the R&D team will be higher than the company average, it said.
Arun Kumar Parameswaran, managing director, VMware India, said the company is closely working with the Centre and various state governments in India to partner more effectively in the Digital India campaign. However, he said the talks are still in its early stages.
VMware has also been, of late, working with a few start-ups in the country in the cloud management segment.
