iSOFT sets up Hyd R&D centre

iSOFT R&D Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of iSOFT Group Plc, has announced the launch of its Hyderabad operations with the setting up of an R&D centre in the city.

The centre, which will be operational from April 16 this month, is the second R&D centre of the company in India. The $281.6-million group that supplies application systems to hospitals and healthcare organisations, had set up its first R&D centre in Chennai, in 2001.

Addressing mediapersons on Wednesday, Satya Kaliki, director (global product management), iSoft R&D, said, "We have set up a 45,000-sq ft R&D centre at Mindspace, Hitech City. The centre will be an integral part of iSOFT's R&D process, and we will be employing 200 professionals by the end of 2005."

The Chennai centre employs 1,000 technology and development professionals.

"We chose Hyderabad after Chennai because of the availability of talent pool, international transport links, reliable infrastructure and power, and presence of technological and system integrator partners," he added.

On the investment earmarked for the Hyderabad operations, Ravan Boddu, chief executive officer of iSOFT India, said that they had earlier announced an investment of $100 million from 2004-07 in India. This figure, he added, includes investment for Hyderabad operations as well.

The company provides software applications to healthcare markets in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Australia among others. It is the principle application supplier in three of the five clusters for UK's National Health Service's National Programme.

The company, however, does not supply any of its solutions in India. "Hospitals in India need better infrastructure to implement our solutions," Boddu said.