Nasscom to set up COE in Kukatpally

Hyderabad: Nasscom’s Centre of Excellence (COE) for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (AI&DS) and Cyber Security will start operating in Kukatpally from November. The Telangana government had signed an MoU with Nasscom in February to set up the COE for AI and Cyber Security. 

In a meeting held on Friday, the Telangana government finalised the deal with Nasscom officials. 

IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said, “The COE will start operating in November from the location which has been rented close to Forum Mall in Kukatpally. Once the data analytics park at Budwel IT Park comes up, then the COE will eventually move there which will take some more time.”

Co-founder of NIIT, R.S. Pawar, will be the fourth chair of the governing council for COE of Cyber Security. However, the leadership for AI&DS is yet to be finalised.

According to sources, in September, both the COEs will be operating from Mindspace until November following which they will be moved to the new location. A source said, “The activity for both the COE will commence mid-September, as the inauguration of the facility will take at least two months since it is not ready yet. The legal formalities are yet to be completed.”

As part of the initial activity, acceleration, skilling and innovation will be the focus areas, which do not require physical premises. 

The COE, unlike incubators, will be for acceleration for startups who are already working in the specified domain. Nasscom has already got in touch with industry partners and more companies are expected to be part of the COE.