Shell to set up its global technology centre in Bangalore

Will be Shell's third technology centre around the world

Oil and gas major, Shell on Thursday announced further expansion in India with the laying of foundation stone for a brand new technology and innovation centre in Bangalore. This is only the third such technology centre that Shell is building in the world. Its other two technology centers are located in Amsterdam and Houston.

This also marks the next step in the company’s expansion into developing technology in Asia. The new centre will house up to 1,500 technology specialists, who will work on some of Shell’s key projects globally. The new centre will be operational by 2015.

Though the company refused to divulge investment details of its new centre, it had indicated to the government of Karnataka that it would invest about Rs 1,376 crore at the time of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the global investors’ meet in June 2010.

“This technology centre is a first for Shell, not just in India, but in Asia and Oceania. Shell’s business model in India has proved to be very robust. It is more than just selling products to India, it’s about engaging the hearts and minds of India people,” Yasmine Hilton, Chairman, Shell Companies in India said.

She said Shell’s decision to strengthen R&D in India has been greatly influenced by the quality of talent and work that it has experienced in India. “The innovation developed at new technology centre in Bangalore will be vital to Shell’s success and our endeavour to meet the energy challenges in the coming years,” she said.

Shell currently employs 900 research and development staff in two separate facilities. This new development, spread over 40 acres at Devanahalli near Bangalore, will expand that number to around 1,500 and provide new opportunities for collaboration across discipline and departmental boundaries, promoting innovative thinking, Matthias Bichsel, Director, Projects, Royal Dutch Shell said.

The teams in Bangalore currently support Shell’s pioneering floating liquefied natural gas facility (FLNG), and also giant projects such as Majnoon in Iraq, Sakhalin in Russia, Abadi in Indonesia and Arrow in Australia.

The technology centre at Bangalore will encompass the full breadth of Shell’s scientific and engineering capability by providing a focus for fundamental and applied research to sit alongside subsurface and facility engineering.