Innovating in India for India and World: Cisco

In a Digital India, the rapidly-expanding mobile network requires a multi-gigabit fast, reliable and temperature-hardened access network while enterprise connectivity needs a dense and fast aggregation network.

Cisco India, the Indian division of the $47.14-billion revenue Silicon Valley-based networking solutions giant Cisco Systems, is making some of the products which will ensure it can be done, with products developed in India.

No more waiting for the very high definition videos, the 4K quality videos (though few exist), to buffer or to download heavy documents. Cisco has come out with three ‘marquee’ products, all conceived and developed in India, just a very of the examples of products that it has developed in India.

With an employee strength of over 11,000, which includes 6,500 engineers, and 900-plus filed patents in 20 years, Cisco India has become the company’s largest global development centre outside the US.

Meanwhile, Cisco India, which had pitched tent in India 20 years ago, has made a mark for itself with reverse innovation and engagement with startups in the country. During the year, of the 1,100 patents granted to Cisco by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), some 9 per cent of them (about 100) were for products developed in India.

The rate of patents filings, from India, has been rising rapidly, according to Amit Phadnis, Cisco India President (Engineering and Site Leader).

“Innovation is a core part of the Cisco culture. Our 2014-15 total research and development spend was approximately $6.3 billion,” Amit Phadnis said.

”During its 20 years in India, Cisco India has contributed to filing 1,000 global patents, and 600 such patents have been issued for innovations across all major technologies.”

Phadnis said that the company has transformed itself from being a cost-effective operational solutions provider into a force of innovation-shaping market trends.

“Though Cisco started its journey in India in 1995 with about 10 engineers, driven by product mindsets and technology excellence, the centre has started executing large engineering product development activities for global markets,” he said.

“Today, Cisco India can conceptualise and innovate based on market trends and customer requirements. When we design products in India, we mainly design for footprint, energy consumption and scalability which meets the requirements of emerging countries like India and end up being relevant globally. Our India-designed products gain traction in developed markets,” said Phadnis.