Germany’s Festo Turns to India for Global R&D, Opens First GCC in…

Sarah J · 2026-02-27T16:44:22.000Z

German automation technology company Festo has strengthened its innovation strategy in India by launching its first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengaluru, positioning the country as a key hub for global research and development. The new facility marks a major milestone as the German firm celebrates 40 years of operations in India, highlighting the growing role of India in the company’s global technology and engineering ecosystem. Spread across 71,000 square feet near Electronics City, the new GCC will support Festo’s worldwide operations by focusing on advanced engineering, software development, AI/ML, data analytics, product security, and process optimisation. The centre has already onboarded over 100 engineers and aims to expand its workforce to around 600 professionals, making it a major technology hub for the company’s global R&D initiatives. The launch of the GCC reflects Festo’s long-term commitment to India’s engineering talent and innovation ecosystem. With more than 1,000 employees in India and a global presence across around 250 locations, the company is leveraging the country’s deep talent pool to drive advancements in Industry 4.0, industrial automation, and smart manufacturing technologies. According to company leadership, the Bengaluru centre will play a key role in accelerating automation solutions and supporting Festo’s vision of automation for a sustainable future while fostering collaboration with India’s fast-growing technology ecosystem. Festo’s investment also reflects a broader trend of European companies expanding R&D and innovation centres in India to tap into the country’s skilled workforce and digital capabilities. As India continues to attract global technology investments and GCC expansions, initiatives like this further strengthen Europe–India collaboration in advanced manufacturing, AI, and industrial automation, positioning India as a strategic innovation partner for global companies.

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Germany’s Festo Turns to India for Global R&D, Opens First GCC in… | SEINET