Agilent Tech to invest 35 Mln Dollars in India

Bangalore, Mar 8: Agilent Technologies, world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, Life Sciences and Chemical analysis, will expand its operations in India with an investment of US Dollar 35 million.

Announcing the setting up of a Centre for Research and Development here, Agilent Technologies Senior Vice-President Chris van Ingen told newspersons that the investment would be made in two years and it might not only be in R and D. The headcount would be increased to 2,000 by next year from the present 1,300, he added.

To a question, he said the Indian pharmaceutical and life sciences industry was expected to grow by US Dollar 150 million to 200 million in the next two years and India should be among the top ten soon.

The Life Science Centre launched would host a multi-disciplinary team for advanced technology, focusing on chemical analysis, molecular biology and software for creating novel and complex scientific applications on its bio-analytical instrument and software platforms. ''The initial focus would be on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, but over time the centre would extend R and D capabilities to other platforms such as microfluidics, gas chromatography and microarrays,'' he added.

Mr van Ingen said ''we will continue to endeavour to develop next-generation technologies that address productivity and efficiency in scientific and engineering operations for Indian customers.'' He said the centre would be built on the same high standards found at other Agilent centres around the world, with a special emphasis on environmnent health and safety guidelines without any compromise on aesthetics, quality or prevalent safety norms.

Agilent Technologies-India President and Country General Manager Venkatesh Valluri said Agilent remained firmly committed to India and focused on providing cutting-edge technology services to the customers and partners.

UNI