HCL Technologies, a prominent global technology company, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) to collaborate on advancing deep technology innovation for Global Capability Centers (GCCs).

The purpose of the collaboration is to transform advanced academic research into practical pilot programs and scalable business solutions, particularly emphasizing artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and emerging technologies.

HCLTech is now seen as a strategic ally for GCCs in search of research-focused innovation through their collaboration.

This partnership integrates HCLTech's comprehensive GCC solutions with the research capabilities and startup environment of IIT Kanpur, aiming to assist businesses in accelerating their time-to-market and tapping into specialized expertise without the need to establish their own research facilities internally.

The collaboration aims to surpass conventional outsourcing methods by incorporating academic research into corporate problem-solving structures.

Professor Manindra Agrawal, the Director of IIT Kanpur, emphasized the institute's robust capabilities in conducting translational research and development in the fields of artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, robotics, and cybersecurity.

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He pointed out that through this partnership, researchers will have the chance to tackle practical challenges faced by enterprises, access funding for their research projects, and benefit from guidance and support from industry leaders.

Kiran Cherukuri, the Executive Vice President and Global GCC Practice Head at HCLTech, expressed that the future advancement of GCC relies heavily on effectively utilizing top-tier research environments.

He characterized the Memorandum of Understanding as a driving force in uniting academia, emerging businesses, and established enterprises in transitioning from cutting-edge research to practical solutions on a large scale.

The partnership was officially commenced during the summit titled "GCC 4.0: Co-Creating India’s Innovation Powerhouse" held in Hyderabad. This summit gathered over 250 distinguished individuals including leaders from both India and international GCCs, startups, IIT Kanpur, and various sectors of the technology industry.

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Given the evolution of GCCs towards becoming centers of innovation and away from solely focusing on costs, collaborations such as this are anticipated to have a significant impact on facilitating advanced engineering, in-depth exploration of technology, and the expansion of digital transformation on a larger scale.

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HCL Technologies is an international technology firm boasting a workforce of more than 226,000 individuals spread out over 60 different countries. Specializing in a variety of services such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, engineering, cloud computing, and software solutions, the company caters to clients in sectors ranging from financial services and manufacturing to healthcare, telecommunications, and retail. HCL Technologies announced total revenues of $14.5 billion for the fiscal year ending in December 2025.