HYDERABAD: Google on Wednesday entered into an agreement with the Telangana government to set up the Internet giant’s Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in Hyderabad.
The GSEC in Hyderabad will be Google’s second in the Asia Pacific region, after Tokyo, and fifth in the world, along with Dublin, Munich and Malaga.
GSEC is a specialised international cybersecurity hub that plays a vital role in developing advanced security and online safety products in the context of India. The centre will focus on research, AI-driven security solutions and creating a collaborative platform for leading experts and researchers in cybersecurity, according to an official release from the CMO.
The GSEC is aimed at fostering skill development, boosting employment and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities in the country. Google has its largest employee base in Hyderabad and is building its largest office in the world in the city, outside of its headquarters.
The GSEC was announced on October 3, at the Google for India 2024 Conclave, leading to a feisty competition between states to bag the investment.
The state government played a proactive role in ensuring that this state-of-the-art facility is set up in Hyderabad. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy took up the matter during his visit to Google Headquarters at USA. “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,” Revanth said.
Welcoming Royal Hansen, CIO, Google, the chief minister 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 Meta (Facebook). Now, with this partnership, I hope we can rapidly solve the global problems of cybersecurity from Hyderabad”.
The GSEC, Hyderabad will bring safety engineers and address the challenges of cybersecurity in the country. 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.
During the discussion on Wednesday, the chief minister said that Hyderabad was a leader in cybersecurity initiatives in the country.
As part of this ongoing digital transformation, the Telangana Fiber (T-Fiber) initiative intends to connect over 47 lakh rural homes and the 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.
Speaking on the occasion, Royal Hansen said: “Google’s GSEC in Hyderabad will become a hub for safety engineering, including cyber and digital security. Hyderabad, with this partnership, can become a global centre and cater to needs of the world in security.” Revanth extended special thanks to Royal Hansen for his support and for joining hands with the government.
Talking points
Google in discussions to establish a major Cloud Centre of Excellence (Google C-CoE) in Hyderabad
Google to explore an agreement to partner with Telangana govt 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 and Telangana are exploring ways to partner in education to enhance the entire school education system
Google and the state govt to explore partnerships in startup ecosystem, including establishing a Google Startup Hub
Google to explore programmes to support Young India Skill University harnessing AI and Cybersecurity skills and competencies