HP creates India Research Operation

NEW DELHI: Hewlett-Packard has created an India Research Operation (IRO), at

the HP India Software Operation in Bangalore. The HP Labs, with a charter to

innovate for developing new economies, will focus on the confluence of social,

cultural, economic and technological drivers to generate relevant solutions to

benefit the poor in the developing world. The IRO will feed into and augment the

recently announced HP World e-inclusion Program.

HP's e-Inclusion Program is a new strategy to broaden access to the social

and economic opportunities in the digital age. The new strategy extends HP's

business focus to traditionally "excluded" markets, with an emphasis

on sustainable business ventures that would improve the livelihoods of the low

income groups in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Currently, technology innovation is focused on the wealthy markets in the

developed economies and the same technologies with minimal modifications, are

sold throughout the rest of the world. "The India Research Operation will

concentrate on the bottom rung of the pyramid. It will focus on the unique,

basic needs of the people. It will work to adopt or develop technology,

solutions and products that touch the lives of the people at the grassroots, in

the villages," says India Software Operation director Subrahmanyam Vempati.

"At the IRO, our focus will be on technology for people, not technology for

businesses. We will work with a broad range of local and global partners to help

bridge the digital-divide," he added.