Shell to set up first Asian tech centre in Bangalore

To set up first Asian tech centre in Bangalore
Business Standard

Energy major Shell is in the process of setting up its first Asian Technology Centre at a 40-acre campus in Bangalore.
The technology centre, which will employ 1,000 scientists and engineers, is on par with Shell’s main technology centres in Amsterdam and Rijswijk (Netherlands) and Houston (USA).

Shell has already set up laboratories in Asian countries such as Qatar, Oman and Singapore, which are focusing on specific areas of research and supporting work. However, the Bangalore laboratory will cater to Shell worldwide by taking up projects across all the verticals.

Currently, Shell India Technology Centre has 200 scientists and engineers working on various projects. “The Bangalore centre is our first major foray into the Asian region since we are treating it as a global research centre. The headcount will touch 500 by the year-end.

We intend to employ more than 1,000 scientists and engineers in the coming years. The investments being made in Bangalore are significant to our firm,” Shell Technology India President Bob Frith said.

“One way we address the energy challenges is through our strategy — grow east — to uncover the expanding markets in the region. The Bangalore technology centre will deliver high-end technical studies and projects for Shell across the globe.

The centre will also offer services spanning upstream exploration and production activities, downstream gas, refinery and chemical operations,” he added.

Shell is recruiting from premier institutes in the country like the Indian Institute of Technology. “The recruits begin their careers by taking part in an intensive induction programme at different Shell technology centres across the globe,” Frith said.

The firm is also exploring options of tying up with leading research institutes for collaborative research work in energy. “Our initiatives show that we are not here for back-office operations. We are here because of the huge technical talent pool,” he said.