Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I am a global executive with 28 years of leadership experience spanning Technology, Operations, Finance, HR, Legal, and M&A across the U.S., Europe, and India. I am a proven builder and leader of innovation-led Global Capability Centers (GCCs), focusing on transforming them into strategic value creators for multinational enterprises.

Currently, I am the Managing Director (member of the board) of D2Sol India GCC and Corporate Vice President of D2Sol Inc. Apart from scaling D2Sol in India, I focus on influencing D2Sol’s global strategy and operation optimization. Before D2Sol, I served as Country Head for Merative India GCC (member on board), overseeing end-to-end product delivery, professional services, and corporate functions across multiple locations (Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai GCCs). I previously led IBM’s Watson Health business unit from inception through its global scale-up and eventual divestiture, playing a pivotal role in driving product innovation and delivery excellence in digital health.

With deep expertise in Digital Health Transformation, Government Health & Human Services (HHS), Value-Based Care, and healthcare regulatory frameworks, I am widely recognized as a thought leader and speaker at technology and leadership forums. I bring a unique blend of operational depth and strategic vision, making me a trusted advisor on global delivery models, innovation ecosystems, intrapreneurship, and talent strategies.

Q2. What are the maturity levels of innovation-led GCCs across Tier I and Tier II Indian cities, and how is that expected to evolve by 2027?

Current Maturity Levels (2025)

Tier I Cities (e.g., Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, NCR)

• Medium to High maturity in innovation-led functions such as AI/ML, data science, product engineering, cloud, cybersecurity, and platform development
• Deep integration into global enterprise innovation roadmaps
• Strong partnerships with academia, incubators, and startups
• Focus on design-led thinking, IP creation, and end-to-end product ownership

Tier II Cities (e.g., Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Indore, Kochi, Jaipur)

Emerging to mid-level maturity

• GCCs here are sometimes extensions of larger Tier I operations
• Innovation is more execution-focused than driven by R&D or product strategy
• Talent pools are growing, especially in software engineering, QA, and DevOps, with a gradual movement toward AI/ML and analytics

Expected Evolution by 2027

Tier I Cities

• Will remain innovation hubs but face growing cost pressures and saturation
• Shift from execution + innovation to innovation-first roles, particularly in strategic R&D, sustainability tech, and health-tech
• Increased focus on intrapreneurship models and spinout startups within GCC frameworks

Maturity: Fully evolved centers of innovation and strategic decision-making

Tier II Cities

Set to become next-wave innovation centers, driven by:

• Improved infrastructure and digital connectivity
• Remote-first hybrid models are making Tier II talent more accessible
• STP/SEZ and Government-backed IT clusters, startup incubator hubs
• May begin to see domain-led innovation in BFSI, health-tech, and analytics

Maturity: Mid to high maturity, particularly in focused verticals with centers of excellence (CoEs).

Key Drivers of GCC Innovation Maturity by 2027

• Talent democratization across cities due to hybrid and flexible work models
• Digital public infrastructure (like India Stack) enabling faster solution development
• Shift to value-based KPIs — GCCs are also being measured on innovation outcomes, not just cost
• AI, GenAI, and automation adoption are becoming core mandates from HQs
• Stronger local innovation ecosystems — universities, startups, and skilling programs are catalysts

Q3. What are the projected YoY growth rates in terms of the number of Life Sciences and Healthcare (LSHC) GCCs and workforce size between 2025 and 2030?

Number of LSHC GCCs: Expected to increase from approximately 100 in 2024 to over 200 by 2030.

Workforce Size: Projected to grow from about 200,000 professionals in 2024 to over 420,000 by 2030.

This projected growth is primarily driven by factors such as the increasing adoption of AI and automation in drug discovery, clinical trials, regulatory compliance, population health, and payor/provider segments. India’s skilled and experienced talent pool in the US Healthcare ecosystem, tech adaptability of Indian developers, and cost efficiencies are the most important factors in this potential growth story.

Recent case study: Bristol myers squibb GCC

Q4. How are healthcare GCCs using the emerging technologies to simulate biological processes, human cells, or clinical environments? Give examples

Healthcare GCCs are leveraging emerging technologies—such as AI/ML, digital twins, organ-on-chip, AR/VR, and quantum computing—to simulate biological processes, human cells, and clinical environments. These simulations are significantly disrupting drug discovery, diagnostics, and personalized care.

Some examples below:

Digital Twins of Human Physiology

Digital twins are real-time, virtual replicas of biological systems (organs, cells, or even entire patients).

Use Case: GCCs are developing patient-specific digital twins to simulate disease progression and treatment outcomes.

Examples

IBM Watson Health (India GCC) has leveraged AI-based modeling to simulate chronic disease management pathways and predict treatment adherence or risk.

Philips’ Healthcare Innovation Center in Pune is exploring digital twins to simulate cardiac functions for personalized diagnostics.

AI/ML in Drug Discovery & Cell Simulation

AI and machine learning models are trained on molecular and genomic data to predict how cells or proteins react to various compounds.

Use Case: Simulating molecular interactions, target validation, and toxicity at the cellular level.

Examples

Novartis’ Hyderabad GCC uses deep learning to model protein folding and predict drug efficacy before clinical trials.

AstraZeneca’s Bangalore center applies AI to simulate gene expression and optimize treatment regimens in oncology.

Organ-on-a-Chip Technology

Microfluidic devices that mimic the functions of human organs at a cellular level.

Use Case: Allows GCCs to simulate organ-level drug interactions without animal testing.

Example

While R&D is often centralized in HQs, GCCs like Johnson & Johnson in India support simulation data analysis and chip-based testing environments for early-stage compounds.

AR/VR for Clinical Simulations

Augmented and virtual reality tools to simulate surgery, patient behavior, or treatment delivery.

Use Case: Training, prototyping, and remote diagnostics.

Examples

GE Healthcare’s Bangalore center uses VR to simulate clinical environments for device testing and physician training.

Medtronic’s R&D center in Hyderabad is developing AR-based interfaces to simulate device usage in virtual anatomical settings.

Quantum and High-Performance Computing (HPC)

Simulating molecular behavior at quantum levels for more accurate predictions in drug discovery.

Use Case: Modeling quantum interactions in protein-ligand binding.

Example

Pfizer’s India GCC is collaborating on early quantum algorithm testing to simulate highly complex biological environments—currently more exploratory but promising.

Synthetic Data for Clinical Trial Simulation

AI-generated data sets that simulate patient populations for trial design and scenario testing.

Use Case: Reduces dependence on real-world patient data while improving trial accuracy.

Example

IQVIA’s India teams are deeply involved in developing and validating synthetic cohorts to predict clinical trial feasibility and optimize protocol designs.

Q5. What’s the potential for edtech-GCC partnerships to evolve into vertically integrated L&D models for healthcare and digital tech talent?

The potential for EdTech–GCC partnerships to evolve into vertically integrated Learning & Development (L&D) models for healthcare and digital tech talent is both strong and strategically significant, especially as GCCs shift from cost centers to innovation hubs.

Drivers of the EdTech –GCC Convergence

Talent Supply–Demand Gap

GCCs in healthcare and digital health demand hybrid skill sets (e.g., AI + clinical knowledge, regulatory tech + data privacy).

Tier I/Tier II cities need continuous skilling pipelines, especially in biostatistics, RWE (real-world evidence), regulatory affairs, interoperability standards (e.g., FHIR), and cloud-based health platforms.

Need for Role-Ready Talent

EdTech platforms (e.g., upGrad, Coursera, Medvarsity, LinkedIn Learning) can co-create role-based skilling pathways aligned with GCCs’ workforce planning.

Shift from Horizontal to Vertical L&D

Traditional L&D was generic (communication, leadership, coding).

The new model will focus on industry-specific certifications, real-time labs, and in-house credentialing (e.g., digital therapeutics, health analytics, AI for diagnostics).

How Vertically Integrated L&D Models may Work

Layer	EdTech-GCC Collaboration Element	Example Initiatives
Curriculum Design	Co-designed content tied to GCC roles in health tech, AI/ML, etc.	Health data compliance, GenAI for clinical data
Faculty/SME Exchange	GCC leaders as adjunct instructors, EdTech mentors placed in GCCs	AI ethics in healthcare delivery, taught by GCC execs
Assessment & Credentialing	Joint certification with EdTech + GCC branding	“Certified Health Data Analyst – GCC Edition”
Hiring and Deployment	Pre-hire assessments and cohort-based hiring	focused finishing schools in Tier II cities

Benefits to Each Party

For GCCs

• Create just-in-time, role-ready talent
• Improve retention through career progression paths
• Reduce onboarding time with customized bootcamps

For EdTechs

• Gain enterprise revenues and long-term pipeline deals
• Enhance credibility with industry-aligned programs
• Tap into domain-specific L&D (healthtech, med-device tech), which is underserved

Real-World Cases of This Trend

• Infosys Springboard and Coursera partnerships with GCCs for role-based upskilling
• IQVIA, Novartis, and AstraZeneca are exploring internal L&D academies for digital health, often co-powered by external EdTechs
• Government initiatives (e.g., Skill India + private sector coalitions) encourage GCCs to become L&D hubs for local talent in healthcare and life sciences

2030 Outlook

• We’ll likely see EdTechs embedded inside GCCs (in a captive or BOT model) focused on domain-specific academies
• Talent development will become hyper-personalized, modular, and real-time, using AI tutors, VR patient simulators etc

Q6. Which cybersecurity and regulatory-tech platforms are gaining traction among healthcare GCCs and may present investment opportunities?

Cybersecurity Platforms Gaining Traction

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA): GCCs are implementing ZTA to ensure that every access request is authenticated, authorized, and encrypted. This approach minimizes the risk of data breaches by eliminating implicit trust within the network.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems

Platforms like Splunk and IBM QRadar are being utilized for real-time monitoring, threat detection, and incident response, providing a centralized view of security events across the organization.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Solutions such as CrowdStrike and SentinelOne are deployed to monitor and protect endpoints, enabling rapid detection and remediation of threats.

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): With the migration to cloud services, GCCs are adopting CSPM tools to continuously monitor and manage cloud security risks and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Regulatory Technology (Regtech) Platforms in Use

Automated Compliance Management: Platforms that automate the tracking of regulatory changes and manage compliance workflows are essential for GCCs to stay aligned with evolving regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, and FDA guidelines.

Data Privacy Management Tools: Solutions facilitating data mapping, consent management, and data subject rights fulfillment help GCCs comply with data protection laws.

Electronic Trial Master File (eTMF) Systems: These platforms streamline the management of clinical trial documentation, ensuring regulatory compliance and audit readiness.

Risk Management Software: Tools that assess and monitor risks across various operations enable GCCs to proactively address potential compliance issues.

Investment Opportunities

The growing reliance on cybersecurity and regtech platforms by healthcare GCCs presents significant investment opportunities:

Cybersecurity Ventures: Given the increasing demand for robust cybersecurity measures, investing in companies that offer advanced threat detection, cloud security, and endpoint protection solutions can be lucrative.

Regtech Startups: Startups that provide innovative compliance management and data privacy solutions are poised for growth as regulations become more stringent.

Integrated Platforms: Companies offering integrated cybersecurity and compliance solutions tailored for the healthcare sector may attract substantial investment due to their comprehensive approach to risk management.

Q7. If you were an investor looking at companies within the space, what critical question would you pose to their senior management?

• How is your platform purpose-built to meet the evolving compliance and data sovereignty demands of healthcare GCCs operating under multi-jurisdictional regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, and India’s DPDP Act, while still delivering AI/ML-driven threat detection at scale
• How do you validate your platform’s effectiveness in real-world GCC deployments (e.g., sandboxing, pilot studies, partnerships)?
• What partnerships (cloud providers, audit firms, compliance bodies) are you leveraging to stay ahead of regulatory changes?
• What percentage of your R&D is dedicated to adapting for verticals like life sciences or med-tech?