AstraZeneca’s global capability center (GCC) in India is set to play a vital role in achieving the company’s ambitious $80 billion revenue target by 2030, according to Siva Padmanabhan, managing director of AstraZeneca India Private Ltd (AZIPL). The Chennai and Bengaluru centers will leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, generative AI, immersive experiences, digital twins, and quantum computing to accelerate the introduction of innovative products both in India and globally.
To support this global tech initiative, AstraZeneca plans to hire approximately 2,200 people in Chennai and Bengaluru in the near future, with about 1,300 positions at the Global Innovation and Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai over the next 18 months and an additional 900 in Bengaluru. “As we look toward 2030, we envision these centers playing a key role in our $80 billion revenue roadmap and the launch of new medicines in India,” Padmanabhan stated.
The company has identified several critical technologies for its 2030 goals and recently announced a ~₹250 crore investment to expand its Chennai center, focusing on driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and streamlining global operations. Initially established as a technology hub, the centers have since broadened their capabilities to support global commercial operations in sales, marketing, analytics, research, and development, including clinical trials, data analysis, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory filings.
The latest addition to their expertise is in global supply chain management. “We expect our growth journey to continue, enhancing the value we provide from our centers in India and enabling faster introductions of innovative products,” Padmanabhan noted. Currently, the India centers serve over 100 countries, benefiting from favorable policies in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka that support such operations.
Padmanabhan emphasized, “We are at the forefront of generative AI, with numerous technologies being developed here for global application. This innovation is impacting every aspect of medicine discovery.”
