GCCs are spearheading innovation, enabling meaningful collaborations and cultivating a robust talent pool in a way that is reshaping the business landscape
The remarkable journey of global capability centres (GCCs) in India continues to set new benchmarks, enriching the nation’s economic narrative. The 1,700 centres in India employ close to two million professionals and contribute $64bn to India’s gross domestic product (GDP). They are spearheading innovation, enabling meaningful collaborations and cultivating a robust talent pool in a way that is reshaping the business landscape.
Parallel to this, India’s start-up ecosystem, valued at an estimated $115bn, is poised to benefit immensely from the growing presence of GCCs. The intersection of GCCs and start-ups holds immense potential to drive innovation and mutual growth. Today, GCCs are embracing structured engagement models to work closely with start-ups, functioning as incubators, accelerators and collaborators in solution development.
Through initiatives such as Centres of Excellence (CoE) and flexible partnership frameworks, these collaborations are creating transformative industry outcomes. An increasing number of GCCs are launching corporate accelerator programmes aimed at equipping start-ups with mentorship, funding and global market access.
For instance, a prominent aviation GCC introduced an accelerator programme that provided start-ups with cutting-edge tools and strategic guidance. The initiative not only helped the start-ups scale their operations but also allowed the GCC to integrate disruptive technologies, showcasing a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties.
"As the demand for expertise in AI and cybersecurity continues to rise, start-ups in talent development and recruitment are thriving through collaborations with GCCs"
Additionally, GCCs and start-ups are joining forces to address industry-specific challenges through co-created solutions. In the healthcare sector, for example, GCCs are collaborating with start-ups to harness generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for tasks such as summarising medical records and creating patient education materials.
These innovations enhance operational efficiency while enabling health-care providers to focus more on patient interactions. The EY GCC Pulse Survey 2024 reveals that over 70% of GCCs in India are actively exploring GenAI to optimise operations, with health-care being a key area of application.
In retail, start-ups are designing AI-powered bots capable of delivering tailored customer assistance, offering product recommendations and resolving service issues. These tools are being leveraged by GCCs to enhance customer engagement and meet growing expectations for personalised shopping experiences.
Similarly, in the financial sector, fintech start-ups are collaborating with GCCs to create innovative solutions that promote financial inclusion. Drawing on their expertise in blockchain, regulatory frameworks and financial services, GCCs are empowering start-ups to extend banking services to underserved communities.
To further foster innovation, GCCs are establishing dedicated CoEs that focus on emerging technologies such as GenAI, data analytics and cybersecurity. These centres provide start-ups with a sandbox environment to test, refine and transform ideas into scalable solutions.
"GCCs are fostering a start-up friendly environment that drives growth across industries AND positions India as a leader in innovation
Additionally, GCCs are employing adaptable engagement models, including equity investments and project-based collaborations, that not only provide start-ups with essential resources but also enable GCCs to access groundbreaking, scalable technologies.
The rapid expansion of GCCs is not only driving innovation within their ecosystems but also creating fertile ground for new start-ups to emerge and thrive. By fuelling demand across diverse sectors, GCCs are enabling start-ups to flourish in areas such as co-working spaces, smart office technology and sustainable infrastructure solutions.
In niche domains like AI-powered drug discovery, autonomous vehicle software and 3D-printing, GCCs are forging valuable partnerships, offering start-ups access to resources, mentorship and advanced innovation pipelines. Start-ups specialising in these fields are benefiting from GCC’s commitment to integrate cutting-edge technologies into their operations.
Additionally, as the demand for expertise in high-growth areas like AI, machine learning and cybersecurity continues to rise, start-ups in talent development and recruitment are thriving through collaborations with GCCs. Platforms offering gamified recruitment experiences, AI-driven candidate matching and microlearning solutions are leveraging these partnerships to scale their impact and address emerging workforce challenges.
Through these synergies, GCCs are actively fostering a start-up friendly environment that not only drives growth across industries but also positions India as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. The partnership between GCCs and start-ups is emerging as a cornerstone of India’s innovation ecosystem.
GCCs have evolved from being mere consumers of innovation to become active enablers of start-up growth, offering them the resources and networks they need to succeed. By fostering these collaborations, GCCs and start-ups are not only revolutionising industries but also solidifying India’s position as a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
The writers are partners, EY India