CM Revanth closes big, cutting-edge tech investment win for Hyderabad

CM Revanth closes big, cutting-edge tech investment win for Hyderabad 

- Google selects Hyderabad to establish Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC)

- GSEC Hyderabad will be the second in Asia Pacific, only fifth in the World 

Hyderabad, (Telangana, INDIA)

December 4, 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

- Google LLC., and the State Government of Telangana, announced a strategically-significant agreement on Wednesday 

- Google will help Telangana establish Hyderabad as a global capital for creating Cyber Security and Safety Engineering offerings for the globe

- Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Industries and IT minister Dr D. Sridhar Babu held crucial meeting to convince Google on their visit to Google Global Headquarters in August 2024

- After Google announced it had selected India for establishing GSEC, many state governments entered competitive fray  

- Government led by CM Revanth Reddy bagged deal for Telangana by convincing Google to set up this globally-crucial competency of Cyber Security and Safety Engineering in Hyderabad

- CM Revanth Reddy’s vision for Telangana as a $1 trillion economy, long-term focus on growth and skills, and plans to manage climate crisis and developmental reimagination of Hyderabad won acclaim and investment 

 

Hyderabad, December 4, 2024

In an announcement of red-letter significance, the Government of Telangana has entered into a strategically-crucial and broad ranging partnership with Google today that Google is committed to establishing India’s first Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) at Hyderabad. 

The GSEC in Hyderabad would be the first-of-its-kind in the APAC region, after Tokyo, and only the fifth in the world, with similar facilities in Dublin, Munich and Malaga. 

This GSEC is a specialized international cybersecurity hub that will play a vital role in developing advanced security and online safety products for the Indian context. The centre will focus on cutting-edge research, AI-driven security solutions, and creating a collaborative platform for leading experts and researchers in cybersecurity. It also aims to foster skill development, boost employment, and enhance cybersecurity capabilities in India.

Google, which has its largest employee base in Hyderabad, is currently building its largest office in the world outside of its headquarters here.

The GSEC was initially announced on October 3, 2024, at the Google for India 2024 Conclave, leading to a feisty competition between states to bag this investment. 

The Telangana Government played a crucial role in actively pursuing and ensuring that this state-of-the-art facility would be set up in Hyderabad during Hon’ble Chief Minister’s visit to Google Headquarters at USA, showcasing the state's dedication to becoming a leader in technology, innovation and cybersecurity.

“We are very proud that Google has chosen Hyderabad for setting up the GSEC. This partnership is a testament to Hyderabad’s standing as a leading IT and innovation hub in the country, and world,” said Hon'ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri Revanth Reddy, after the partnership was inked.

Welcoming Mr Royal Hansen, CIO, Google, Shri Revanth Reddy said, “Telangana has always been at the forefront of digital skill development. Hyderabad has been the epicenter of IT / ITES development globally. Our city is already home to five of the most valuable tech companies in the world—Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and (Facebook) Meta. Now, with this partnership, I hope we can rapidly solve the global problems of cyber security from Hyderabad.”

The establishment of GSEC in Hyderabad will be transformative for the city and the state, bringing in best-in-class safety engineers, local policy experts, and collaboration with academic institutions and government partners to address the unique challenges of cybersecurity in India. It will contribute to enhancing the digital safety of businesses, government institutions and citizens, besides leading to creation of thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, during the discussions with the Google team, highlighted that Hyderabad (Telangana) has been a leader in cybersecurity initiatives in India. This leadership is further demonstrated by the state’s proactive approach in forging strategic partnerships with global technology leaders. 

Telangana’s partnership with Google aligns with its broader vision of creating a thriving technological ecosystem that supports research, training, and innovation in ICT. As part of this ongoing digital transformation, the Telangana Fiber (T-Fiber) initiative intends to connect 47+ lakh rural homes, and this partnership with Google will ensure the digital safety of these homes through the integration of secure Android TV/ Smart TV systems. GSEC's collaboration will further strengthen these efforts, providing a secure and connected future for Telangana's citizens.

Telangana sees this partnership with Google as a significant step towards bolstering its capabilities in cybersecurity, fostering innovation, and setting global standards in digital safety. The GSEC will not only contribute to the safety of Telangana's digital infrastructure but also spur academic training and research, aligning with the Hon'ble CM’s vision of creating a large pool of world-class cybersecurity experts in Hyderabad.

Royal Hansen, CIO, Google said, “We are super excited that Google is establishing the GSEC in Hyderabad, a city that is wonderfully positioned to become the global capital and hub for safety engineering, including cyber and digital security. Hyderabad, with this partnership, can become a global centre for this huge area and cater to needs of the world in security. The common alignment of vision of excellence between Google and CM Revanth Reddy to making Hyderabad a global centre promises scope for more partnerships ahead.”

CM Revanth Reddy extended special thanks to Royal Hansen, CIO, Google, for his support and for joining this landmark occasion. He also thanked Arijit Sarkar (VP Global Google Tech, Hyderabad), Sreenivasa Reddy (Managing Director, Govt Affairs and Public Policy, Google India, Delhi), and Mangla Seshadri (⁠Sr Director and Head - Global cybersecurity, Hyderabad), Apurva Chamaria, Head of Startup’s for Google, for their contributions to making this partnership a reality.

OTHER MAJOR DISCUSSION POINTS

• Google in discussions to establish a major Cloud Centre of Excellence (Google C-CoE) in Hyderabad, with cutting-edge competencies 

• Google to explore an agreement to partner with Telangana government to set up India’s first Google-powered Intelligent Traffic Management System. This will harness the power of Google Maps, AI, Live Camera Stream data management, real-time traffic signaling management, among others

• Google exploring ways to power Hyderabad Future City to develop one of the Globally Smartest Cities  

• Google, State of Telangana exploring ways to partner massively in education to enhance the entire school education system

• Google, Government to explore partnerships in startup ecosystem, including establishing a Google Startup Hub

• Google to explore programs to support Young India Skills University harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security skills and competencies