Fresh from its acquisitions last year of C-Sam and ElectraCard Services, MasterCard has opened its largest Tech Hub outside of the US in Pune, India.
The 2014 acquisitions of Vadodara-based C-SAM and Pune-based ECS brought MasterCard development and processing expertise in India, significantly expanding its importance as a hub for innovation. India currently represents approximately ten percent of MasterCard’s global workforce, across various business units. MasterCard says that by year-end it will employ a total of 1500 workers in this unit and at a similar facility in Vadodara, Gujarat,
The card scheme says the new Tech Hub allows for increased collaboration between engineers and developers based in India and MasterCard’s global innovation teams. The Indian engineers will work on innovations around mobile and contactless payments, and tap into Government-led initiatives to expand financial inclusion in the sub-continent.
“India is renowned for its technology leadership, focus on innovation and entrepreneurial spirit,” says Rob Reeg, president, MasterCard Operations and Technology. “The Tech Hub gives MasterCard the opportunity to bring in talented technologists and a wealth of creative new ideas that will help shape the future of payments.”