Infosys opens Strategic Innovation Centre

Plans to work with local universities and businesses

On Thursday, November 7th, the Indian technology company Infosys officially opened its new Technology and Innovation Centre at Friedrichstrasse 56 in the recently completed “Fürst und Friedrich” office building.

The Innovation Centre provides space for up to 300 employees in an area of 5,400 m². Infosys plans to recruit qualified staff from the region, both experienced experts and recent university graduates.

Infosys is a globally operating IT corporation with 225,500 employees and a turnover of over 11.3 billion US dollars (2018). It was founded by six information technologists with 250 US dollars seed capital in Pune, India in 1981 and now has its headquarters in Bangalore.

Customer proximity and workforce potential tipped the balance in favour of Düsseldorf
Infosys decided to settle in Düsseldorf because of its proximity to major customers and the availability of highly qualified employees to help expand its digital business.

Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer, Infosys, said, “This investment in Germany builds on Infosys’ long-standing commitment to Europe, our investment in developing a highly skilled workforce, and our focus on achieving breakthrough innovation for our clients. Dusseldorf is at the vanguard of technological innovation, with a highly skilled labour supply, productivity, social, legal, and regulatory credentials. The new centre, along with our strategic academic partnerships, will help us build the next-generation of technology talent.” 

Thomas Geisel, Mayor, City of Dusseldorf, said, "We are very pleased that Infosys has decided to open its new Digital Innovation Center in Düsseldorf. We are convinced that Infosys will make a considerable contribution towards the digital transformation of the local economy in Düsseldorf. Infosys will find a great pool of academic talent in the region and its investment in this talent will help to prepare the up-coming local workforce for the future.  We look forward to working with the local and the global team of Infosys in the months to come and we will provide them the support they need for a successful start in Dusseldorf."

Office of Economic Development was closely involved in settling the company in Düsseldorf

• March: Business Lunch in London
  Right from the start, the Office of Economic Development provided intensive support and advice as the company established its presence in the city. Shortly after the first contact in March this year, Düsseldorf’s mayor Thomas Geisel travelled to London to meet the European management team of Infosys to discuss the company’s needs and explain their options in Düsseldorf.
• April: Visit programme in Düsseldorf
  In April, the Office of Economic Development organised a comprehensive programme of visits for the core team of Infosys from London and Frankfurt and accompanied them throughout. Meetings were held with universities, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the digihub Düsseldorf, the Düsseldorf employment agency, NRW.Invest, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. Immediately afterwards, Infosys held talks to explore various collaborative projects.
• July: recruiting event
  In July, the Düsseldorf employment agency helped them organise their first recruiting event and the first new employees were selected. Infosys will provide these staff with specialist IT training.