Mumbai: Global technology services leader NTT DATA has announced the launch of its GCC Innovation Acceleration Program, aimed at helping multinational companies rapidly establish and scale their offshore innovation hubs in India.
The GCC Innovation Acceleration Program is designed to support organizations building Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and other innovation and delivery hubs, enabling them to accelerate innovation, strengthen R&D capabilities, and tap into India’s deep technology talent pool.
Announced in Tokyo and Mumbai, the GCC Innovation Acceleration Program was launched in October 2025 and aims to support more than 50 companies over the next three years.
The initiative reflects the growing demand among global enterprises for highly skilled IT professionals and innovation ecosystems, prompting companies to establish strategic offshore centers to support digital transformation and product development.
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Growing Demand for GCCs in India
According to NTT DATA, the GCC Innovation Acceleration Program was launched in India due to the country’s strong technical capabilities and abundant talent pool.
Global enterprises are increasingly relying on offshore hubs to support innovation, digital engineering, and operational scalability.
India’s Global Capability Center ecosystem, which delivers IT services and back-office functions for multinational corporations, is projected to witness significant expansion in the coming years.
NTT DATA estimates that the GCC market will grow nearly 70%, reaching $110 billion by 2030, up from the current $65 billion. The number of centers is expected to exceed 2,500, with the workforce expanding to nearly 4.5 million professionals by the end of the decade.
Through the GCC Innovation Acceleration Program, NTT DATA aims to support organizations at every stage of GCC development, from initial planning to advanced innovation capabilities.
GCC Innovation Acceleration Program: Key Capabilities
The GCC Innovation Acceleration Program will focus on multiple areas to help enterprises build scalable and innovation-driven offshore hubs.
The program will:
- Support GCC establishment and enhancement, covering planning, governance design, talent development, and process optimization.
- Accelerate innovation using advanced technologies such as agentic AI, generative AI, high-performance computing, digital twin, smart robotics, blockchain, and IOWN.
- Promote co-creation R&D, ranging from proof-of-concept development to commercialization, supported by a global network of innovation centers.
Avinash Joshi, Executive Managing Director, India, at NTT DATA, said:
“While GCCs in India are becoming global innovation engines, enterprise-scale AI adoption is still in its early days. Fewer than 20% of GCCs use AI as a core capability today. NTT DATA brings the expertise, platforms and global innovation ecosystem needed to help organizations rapidly scale AI and unlock tangible business value.”
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Supporting Global Innovation Through Partnerships
By combining its advanced technology capabilities with insights from its global operations, NTT DATA aims to enhance both short-term operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness for organizations participating in the GCC Innovation Acceleration Program.
The company has already supported several initiatives at GCCs and innovation hubs in India. One such example is the Unilever GCC Hub in Bengaluru, where NTT DATA helped formulate a global innovation strategy and supported the adoption of advanced R&D technologies.
Amit Tawani, Lead IT Manager, R&D IT at Unilever GCC Hub Bengaluru India, commented:
“We are pleased to collaborate with the NTT DATA India Innovation Center to deliver transformative solutions that empower our Global R&D teams. This partnership allows us to harness advanced technologies, streamline innovation processes and deliver future-fit solutions for Unilever globally.”
In addition, NTT DATA is collaborating with DENSO International India Pvt. Ltd. on Digital Platform Development for Mobility Circular Economy and Integrated Manufacturing. The company is also working with a leading global automotive manufacturer to drive innovation using digital twin technology and process optimization.
Advancing Global Co-Creation Through Innovation Centers
Building on these initiatives, NTT DATA plans to expand collaboration through its network of innovation centers worldwide as part of the GCC Innovation Acceleration Program.
The initiative is expected to support a broad range of global clients, including Japanese enterprises seeking to establish or expand innovation operations in India.
Hiroshi Furukawa, Head of the NTT DATA Innovation Center, said:
“GCCs are expected to evolve into an important base that supports the competitiveness of global companies. Through the GCC Innovation Acceleration Program, NTT DATA will utilize the strength of its global workforce of over 190,000, along with its broad technology portfolio, to advance co-creation R&D with a diverse range of clients and accelerate the creation of new value.”
