BANGALORE, INDIA: "Talent pool and technology innovation in Virtual Product Development (VPD) industry will drive a big market for India during economy slowdown," said Ash Munshi, CEO, president, MSC Software Corporation, delivering a keynote on the theme, 'Perspective on accelerating productivity in a slowing economy'.

Addressing to the participants of the MSC Software India VPD Conference 2009 in Bangalore today, Munshi said, "Indian market is incredibly vibrant and growing at a faster pace and we are here to be a de-facto standard in developing simulation software for various industries."

Looking at the talent level in India, MSC is planning to invest in training, education in university level, he added.

"Our vision is to train students in the college level to get expertise in computer aided engineering (CAE) enabling them to get employed in best companies in the world."

Delivering another keynote address, David Yuen, vice president and general manager, MSC Software Asia Pacific, said the response to VPD conference is overwhelming in India.

"As a direct feedback from the attendees in India, we have incorporated hands-on workshops for our attendees so that they can get closer to the technology, as such you can imagine the level of enthusiasm our users have towards MSC's technology."

Addressing the gathering Dr Reza Sadeghi, chief technology officer, MSC, said it was interesting to hear some of the developments in India.

"India has much to offer as an engineering resource hub and there is much to knowledge share so that local companies can provide perspectives to MSC, while MSC can also share the global experience," he said.

While talking to CIOL, Sridhar Dharmarajan, senior director, SAARC & ANZ, MSC software revealed that MSC is planning to expand its research and development center in Pune, considering the trends and scenario in India.

"We have been in this virtual product development space for the last 40 years and we conduct six VPD conference every year around the world. Our conference helps our customers to understand the advances made in VPD industry and allows them to showcase their papers to other participants," he added.

"We are also planning to invest in education sector where we allow engineering students to start learning the technology in academic, so that when they come out, they will be aware of the technology and get employed in MNC's."

He noted that in the recent years, many MNC's are investing heavily in India for the available talent pool and expressed confidence that MSC's training and technology would help them to complete the assigned project within the specified deadline when they get a job.

"Apart from this, we also have plans to start university advisory board in India and have one representative in the US. This board will consist of university professors from across the world to suggest our company on what do they think about the product and future lies ahead," he added.

According to Dharmarajan, India will see a huge growth in virtual product development industry.

"We will continue to invest in VPD market to be able to monetize on the advances of the opportunities that we are seeing during the economic crisis and I am sure India will become a hub of VPD industry in future, concluded.

The event was aimed at simulation and analysis community, bringing engineering technologists, designers, and academics from all over the world to exchange information and ideas, network with peers from industry, and gain access to the software developers that are redefining CAE.