NTT DATA has initiated its Global Capability Centre (GCC) Innovation Acceleration Programme to assist over 50 multinational companies in establishing and expanding offshore innovation and delivery hubs in India over the next three years. Launched in October 2025, the programme addresses the full GCC lifecycle—from planning and governance to talent development and process optimisation—while accelerating adoption of advanced technologies like agentic AI, generative AI, high-performance computing, digital twins, smart robotics and blockchain.
According to NTT DATA’s analysis, India’s GCC sector is projected to grow nearly 70% to $110 billion by 2030 from $65 billion currently, with centres exceeding 2,500 and employing around 4.5 million professionals. For multinational strategists, this trajectory underscores India’s evolution from a cost-arbitrage base to a global innovation engine, where government initiatives, talent abundance and infrastructure maturation enable rapid scaling of high-value functions like R&D and digital transformation.
Bridging AI Adoption Gaps in Evolving GCCs Through Co-Creation
NTT DATA’s programme targets a key constraint: while GCCs are maturing into innovation hubs, large-scale AI integration remains limited, with fewer than 20% leveraging AI as a core capability. Avinash Joshi, Executive Managing Director for India at NTT DATA, emphasised that the firm provides expertise, platforms and a global ecosystem to enable rapid AI scaling and business value realisation, transforming GCCs from operational back offices to competitive differentiators.
The initiative promotes co-creation R&D, advancing projects from proof-of-concept to commercialisation via NTT DATA’s network of innovation centres and its IOWN architecture for optical and wireless networks. This approach mitigates risks associated with fragmented tech stacks and talent mismatches, allowing global firms to harness India’s engineering depth for sovereign innovation while maintaining alignment with parent company strategies.
Proven Collaborations with Unilever, DENSO and Automotive Leaders
NTT DATA has already demonstrated impact through partnerships, including support for Unilever’s Bengaluru GCC in developing a global innovation strategy and deploying advanced R&D technologies. Amit Tawani, Lead IT Manager for R&D IT at Unilever GCC Hub Bengaluru, noted that the collaboration harnesses cutting-edge tech to streamline processes and deliver future-fit solutions for Unilever’s worldwide R&D teams.
Further examples include DENSO International India, where NTT DATA aided digital platform development for mobility circular economy and integrated manufacturing, alongside work with a global automotive manufacturer on digital twins and process optimisation. Hiroshi Furukawa, Head of NTT DATA Innovation Center, positioned GCCs as vital for global competitiveness, leveraging NTT DATA’s 190,000-strong workforce and tech portfolio for value creation. For risk-conscious multinationals, these cases illustrate a de-risked pathway to Tier-2/3 city expansion, AI-led efficiency and resilient supply chains amid geopolitical shifts.
