TCS' fourth R&D lab to focus on emerging technologies

NEW DELHI: Technology solutions provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced the launch of its fourth corporate research lab, the innovation Lab (iLab), in New Delhi.

The lab would explore 'disruptive' technologies like grid computing, collaborative software development and Service Oriented Architectures (SOA).

iLab currently employs around 10 people and the company plans to increase this number to 20 in the next few years. According to TCS technology programs VP Dr. Gautam Shroff, “We would keep the numbers small and focus on quality.”

Refusing to divulge the financial details, he said that TCS has invested in the hardware and software required for the lab on a need basis.

“iLab would also focus on delivering value through scalable and secure platforms based on new enterprise technology components developed by TCS as well as partners in emerging technologies such as Grid Computing, SOA and Collaborative Software Development," said Dr. Shroff.

In Life Sciences, iLab is using Grid Computing to parallelise computations within TCS' Bio-Suite product in the field of drug discovery using commonly available desktop computers. The company claims that this will lead to 10-fold or more reduction in the time taken to complete complex molecule docking calculations.

Code generation tools developed by TRDDC in Pune are being integrated into a SA framework to help improve the productivity of software developers. iLab is also integrating TCS' code generation, testing and standards checking tools along with tools from technology partners into an integrated global collaborative software development offering.

TCS employs around 300 people across its R&D labs in Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad. iLab would also play a key role in integrating emerging technologies to further improve research-driven products being developed by TCS at its other R&D centers across the country.