Pune: STPI to set up new Centre of Excellence in Autonomous Connected Electric Shared (ACES) Mobility version
Pune, June 11, 2020: STPI Pune directorate has seven centres across Maharashtra & Goa catering the IT/ITES industry from Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Goa.
The exports revenue from 879 IT/ITES registered units operating in the state of Maharashtra & Goa was Rs 85,163.59 Cr. during the financial year 2018-19 with the employment of 450,155 employees and investment of Rs. 3,323.95 Cr. over the same period. There has been a 100 % growth of IT/ITES exports in FY 2018-19 as compared to the financial year 2008-09. Maharashtra is the second largest IT/ITES exports In India, with Pune recorded the highest software exports, with Mumbai at second place, followed by Nagpur and Nashik.
The journey of Software Technology Park of India (STPI) is synonymous with the evolution of IT industry in India. However, what remained unseen was the fact that the beginning of this stupendous journey was quite modest & sober and full of difficulties as well. When few Indian IT companies had started their operations in the early 80’s, the environment for the growth of IT industry was not conducive. High import duties on computer hardware and software, the requirement of licenses and the absence of a national policy for IT were the major bottlenecks for companies to succeed in this industry. Lack of proper infrastructure, difficulty in the import of computers, servers and other necessary hardware were the major roadblocks for companies to execute their offshore development programmes while on-shoring was consummated by Indian talent.
In the mid-80’s, few visionaries like MGK Menon, KPP Nambiar and Narasimhiah Seshagiri in India saw the opportunities of growth and huge potential for job creation in IT sector through software services and outsourcing. Subsequently, they created the frameworks for the legal, operational, and business processes involved in it. Eventually, they put forward a strategy in 1986 for the promotion of software development and exports, which was published in the Gazette of India.
The first historic event that heralded the genesis of IT Industry in India was the establishment of three Software Technology Parks at Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru and Pune in 1989. Consequently, on 5th June 1991, these three STPs were merged to create a single entity Software Technology Parks of India.
Close to three decades of unflinching service to the nation in making India an IT Superpower may seem insignificant in the journey of human civilization. But this short span has transformed a nation from a sober economic performer to a global leader in the technology revolution and the fastest emerging economy in the world. As incredible as it may sound, STPI has been the beacon of such journey that has marvelled the global stakeholders many a time. Now, STPI has 60 centres across pan-India with 52 centres in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as compare to three centres in 1989.
Today, the US $191 billion IT industry, comprising around 18,000-plus firms that directly employ 4.36 million strong workforces, that contributes 8.0% of GDP is a testimony to the STPI’s resolute performance in transforming Indian IT industry into global outsourcing destination for software exports. Another feather to this cap is that the exports clocked by STP-registered units stand at INR 4,21,103 crore during 2019-20. In last 3 decades, the determined efforts of STPI in promoting IT industry in global platforms and boosting software exports essentially reflect STPI’s commitment towards economic progress of the nation, and team STPI will unswervingly continue to fulfil the aspirations of the “New India” in times to come.
As a policy enabler, STPI has been bringing out futuristic schemes apropos the technological advancements. Having a vision for transforming India into a product nation, STPI has been activating multiple initiatives under “National Policy on Software Products” approved by Government of India recently. To enable the Indian IT industry to face the challenges of Industry 4.0 and build India’s leadership in emerging technology areas like IoT, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & Virtual Reality, FinTech, Medical Electronics, Health Informatics, Gaming & Animation, Machine Learning, Data Science & Analytics, Cyber Security, Chip Designing, ESDM etc. STPI is embarked on setting up 21+ domain-centric Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in a collaborative manner across India. These CoEs will enable a pan India vibrant tech startup ecosystem in times to come. As India is at the forefront of adopting disruptive technologies, the STPI CoEs will unmistakably play the role of catalyst and provide the desired momentum to the innovation and startup led future growth of IT industry.
On this occasion, STPI has organized online series of knowledge sessions where the eminent speaker was called from Government of India, Industry, Industry associations, Academia to share their thought on Policy, Emerging Technologies & innovation and Entrepreneurship and future skilling.
