The India Development Center, NCR will serve as a premier center of engineering and innovation
Noida, January 28, 2021: Microsoft today announced the launch of its new India Development Center (IDC) facility at NCR that will serve as a premier hub for driving cutting-edge engineering and innovation. IDC NCR is Microsoft’s third Development Center in India after Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The contemporary workspace is a step towards realizing IDC’s vision of being a source of innovation for the next billion users. The center will build on Microsoft’s commitment to tap India’s world-class engineering talent and create solutions for a global impact.
The IDC NCR facility will collaborate with Microsoft teams globally to build products and services for driving digital innovation. The center will provide opportunities for engineering talent in the areas of Business & Productivity tools, AI, Cloud & Enterprise, Core Services, and the new Gaming division.
The IDC NCR workspace architecture is inspired by the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. The structure is a unique amalgamation of the latest Microsoft technologies and locally sourced materials. The intricate artwork by local artisans and graphics inspired by India’s rich cultural heritage elevate the aesthetics of the office. Its stunning marble inlays, vaulted doorways, arches, and marble domes created by stonemasons and carpenters, are a tribute to the country’s historical and rich craftsmanship.
The project is in line with Microsoft’s commitment to sustainability, and the facility has implemented energy and water conservation practices to reduce its carbon footprint. The Project Team incorporated many considerations during the design process to ensure that the office meets our high sustainability measures. Our base building is LEED platinum rated, meaning it caters to the highest sustainability standards of construction and operation.
Riku Pentikäinen, Regional Director, Asia Real Estates Operations, said: “Recognizing the strategic importance of establishing Microsoft engineering presence in Noida, my team went over and beyond in ensuring that our first engineering hub in Noida truly represents Microsoft Design Language infused with local culture and inheritance. In this respect, I feel the team overdid themselves, and the newly opened Noida office is one of the most beautiful Microsoft workspaces, we have designed, to date.”
Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director, Microsoft India Research & Development Pvt. Ltd., said: “The Microsoft NCR workplace represents a critical expansion of our world-class technology talent and exceptional engineering presence in India. Digital Transformation is set to trigger the new frontier of innovation, and the excellent facilities at the Microsoft Noida workplace provide the right environment for shaping the future of the IT industry in this part of the world. Our architectural tribute to the iconic Taj Mahal was made with constant considerations to meet our deep commitment to sustainability and support for local artisans and materials.”
IDC also recently opened an additional office space at Sohini Tech Park in Hyderabad, built to a hybrid work environment. The layout and design come with productivity-enhancing features such as Team-Based Neighborhood Spaces with workstations-on-wheels, Scrum areas, Microsoft Teams AV enabled meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and breakout hubs. The experiential graphics designs and interiors also support diversity, inclusion, and accessibility; and connects at a global level within the local context.
Microsoft India Development Center (IDC) is one of Microsoft’s largest R&D centers outside the Redmond headquarters. Set up in Hyderabad in 1998, IDC drives Microsoft’s strategy of globally shared development to build products and services. With a presence in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and now NCR, IDC houses three technology groups and core engineering services, driving some of the most impactful and innovative work happening across Microsoft.
- Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Research: Responsible for driving the company’s overall AI strategy and forward-looking research and development efforts spanning infrastructure, services, apps, and agents
- Cloud & Enterprise: Focuses on CRM, development tools, cloud infrastructure, Visual Studio, Microsoft Azure
- Experiences & Devices Group: Works on the software platform, games, apps and devices that power the Windows ecosystem. This group is also responsible for Microsoft’s global productivity strategy via products and services including Office 365, SharePoint, and Vision
- Core Services Engineering: Core Services Engineering is the team that builds and runs the critical products and services that enable Microsoft to serve its customers
