Hyderabad: In a major boost to the country’s technological and cybersecurity landscape, Google on Wednesday announced the establishment of its Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in Hyderabad. This state-of-the-art cybersecurity hub will be the first-of-its-kind in the Asia-Pacific region outside of Tokyo and only the fifth in the world, after Dublin, Munich and Malaga. The announcement follows a high-stakes race among Indian states to secure the project after Google declared its intention to establish a GSEC in the country. The state government successfully clinched the deal, evidencing Hyderabad's reputation as a global IT and innovation hub. The announcement was made after a meeting between Google’s chief information officer (CIO), Royal Hansen, and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, alongside IT minister D. Sridhar Babu, at Reddy’s residence in Jubilee Hills.
The discussions culminated in a wide-ranging agreement aimed at bolstering Telangana’s position as a global leader in cybersecurity and digital safety engineering.
GSEC’s Hyderabad facility will play a critical role in developing advanced security and online safety products tailored to India’s unique needs. The centre will focus on cutting-edge research, AI-driven security solutions and fostering collaboration among cybersecurity experts, researchers, and policy makers. It is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and enhance India’s cybersecurity capabilities and boost skill development in the region.
Excited over the development, Reddy said, “This is a proud moment for Telangana. It underscores Hyderabad’s emergence as a global technology hub. With this partnership, we aim to address global cybersecurity challenges while creating a thriving ecosystem of innovation and talent in our state.” The decision to set up GSEC in Hyderabad reflects Google’s confidence in Telangana’s robust IT infrastructure and talent pool.
During discussions, the Chief Minister highlighted the state’s leadership in cybersecurity initiatives and its commitment to creating a $one trillion economy powered by technological innovation and sustainability. Hansen said, “Hyderabad is uniquely positioned to become a global capital for safety engineering. This partnership aligns with our vision of excellence in cybersecurity, and we are thrilled to join hands with Telangana in building a safer digital future.”
The state government’s proactive engagement with global tech leaders is part of its broader vision to position Hyderabad as a hub for emerging technologies. By hosting GSEC, Hyderabad not only strengthens its role as a global technology powerhouse but also takes a significant forward step towards building a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven digital economy, a statement said.
Hi-tech routes
Key initiatives discussed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Google’s chief information officer (CIO) Royal Hansen:
· Establishment of its Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in Hyderabad.
· State-of-the-art cybersecurity hub will be the first-of-its-kind in the Asia-Pacific region outside of Tokyo and only the fifth in the world.
· The announcement follows a high-stakes race among Indian states to secure the project after Google declared its intention to establish the GSEC.
· Establishing Google Cloud Centre of Excellence (C-CoE) in Hyderabad.
· Collaborating on India’s first Intelligent Traffic Management System powered by Google Maps and AI.
· Exploring projects to enhance Hyderabad’s upcoming Future City's transformation into a global smart city.
· Supporting education through partnerships to modernise the school education system and creating a Google startup hub to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
· Initiatives like the Telangana Fiber (T-Fibre) project, which aims to connect over 4.7 million rural households, are expected to benefit from Google’s expertise in digital safety and cybersecurity.
