NetApp opens global CoE in Bangalore; announces accelerator for data management startups

BANGALORE, INDIA: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has inaugurated the Bangalore Global Center of Excellence of NetApp built on a sprawling 15-acre campus in the city.

“The innovations that come from our Bangalore Global Center of Excellence will help customers around the world get ahead of the competition by enabling their data-powered digital transformation strategies” said NetApp CEO George Kurian. “Our continued investment in India, with its highly skilled talent, collaborative government and global business partners, strengthens our ability to succeed in the new era of hybrid cloud.”

With a 12,000-square-foot data center and engineering laboratory, the new engineering facility is home to one of the company’s largest research and development (R&D) teams. The Bangalore team’s mission includes expanding NetApp’s line-up of Data Fabric solutions and services that maximize control and improve the secure movement of data across the hybrid cloud. The diverse skills of employees and partners available at the new center will further innovations in these areas.

It also houses the company’s first startup accelerator program, called Escape Velocity, that will help nurture technology startups.

“As we evolve our Data Fabric approach, the Escape Velocity program will help to share our technology expertise and business acumen with innovative startups who will add to the robust cloud data management ecosystem our customers need. With our support, these startups will be on a path to win in a dynamic global IT environment,” said Deepak Visweswaraiah, managing director of NetApp India and head of NetApp’s worldwide Data Fabric and Manageability Group.