Access to collaborations and a thriving start-up ecosystem serve as a booster shot for setting up GCCs, noted industry players
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In a bid to drive digital transformation, global pharma giants are establishing Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. Companies like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Takeda have expanded their footprint in the country, leveraging the vast tech talent here.
Political stability and a robust domestic consumption, according to industry players, are key reasons for companies turning to India amid an economic slowdown.
According to an Ernst & Young report, the number of GCCs in India is expected to cross $100 billion, housing 2,500 centres and employing over 4.5 million professionals. This surge is not limited to tech-based GCCs alone. In the Life Sciences and Healthcare (LSHC) segment, the number of GCCs is expected to increase from 100 in 2024 to over 160 by 2030, employing more than 4,20,000 professionals, according to a whitepaper by Healthark.
What makes India attractive?
While India’s tech talent pool has become a magnet for global companies, access to collaborations and a thriving start-up ecosystem serve as a booster shot for setting up GCCs, noted industry players.
Novo Nordisk, which has its Global Business Services (GBS) centre in Bengaluru, currently employs 4,500 people. The centre supports the global team across the value chain, from early research and development to supply chain planning, covering operations in over 100 countries.
Similarly, Sanofi’s Hyderabad-based GCC is one of its four global hubs, alongside those in Budapest (Hungary), Bogotá (Colombia), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The India hub supports functions ranging from commercial and manufacturing, to advanced R&D initiatives like AI, data analytics, and emerging technologies to accelerate drug development, shared Minal Duggal, Head of Sanofi Global Services, Hyderabad centre.
Takeda, which inaugurated its first Innovation Capability Centre (ICC) in Asia in Bengaluru, last year, aims to expand its operations. “From the current 340 employees, we plan to scale to about 770 by the end of this year,” said Tilak Banerjee, Head of Takeda ICC, India.
Eli Lilly, another major player, has significant operations across Bengaluru and Hyderabad. With 1,500 people across both its GCCs, around 15 per cent of its R&D workforce is based in India, making it the company’s largest centre outside the US, emphasised Dan Skovronsky, Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of Science at Eli Lilly.
From cost centres to value creators
Over the years, India’s GCCs have evolved from cost-arbitrage units to value creators, driving innovation, digital transformation, and global strategic initiatives. “This shift reflects their growing maturity, moving beyond operational support to becoming hubs of excellence in R&D, data science, and high-value decision-making,” noted Dawber.
However, as more pharma giants look to India, retaining talent remains a key concern. “One challenge, a little unique to India, is talent retention. With many companies wanting to set up GCCs here, holding on to talent will be one of the major hurdles,” added Dawber.
Headcount expansion
With rising demand and strategic importance, pharma majors are ramping up hiring at their India hubs. Sanofi plans to increase its headcount from the current 1,700 to 2,600 by the end of 2025, making it the largest among its global hubs. Novo Nordisk has been consistently growing its workforce by around 20 per cent annually.
Published on April 6, 2025
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