Business Objects plans to expand India R&D centre

US-based Business Objects, which provides software solutions to improve business, intends to expand its R&D centre in Bangalore over the next three years.

The company's India Development Centre (IDC), which employs 300 engineers, will add 200 more shortly.

''At present, the IDC is the third largest R&D centre for the company. We expect it to become the company's largest R&D centre in the coming years. For the last one year, IDC has filed for 20 patents,'' said Keith Budge, senior vice-president & general manager (APAC & Japan), Business Objects.

The $1.2 billion company has R&D centres in Paris, Vancouver and Shanghai. Over 1,600 engineers are employed at all the four centres.

''The IDC will contribute to the company's overall research mandate. All mid-market products for Business Objects globally will be conceived and developed at the Bangalore R&D centre. This will enable IDC to take full ownership of the product right from the conceptualisation to market release,'' he added.

The IDC plans to collaborate with top educational institutions in Bangalore to sponsor research in business intelligence (BI).

The company's BI software solution, an analytical tool, helps companies improve their performance, better risk management and analyse trends and developments in their respective sectors.

Apart from providing BI software solutions, the company provides consulting service.

According to Budge, India is the fastest growing country for the company within the APAC region.

It has over 200 corporate customers in India, including Reliance Industries, BPO firm WNS Global Services, RBI and banks and telecommunications companies.