Lenovo Expands Presence in India with AI Server Manufacturing and R&D Facility

Lenovo eyes PC designing in India to complete manufacturing stack, says MD Shailendra Katyal

At present, Lenovo manufactures desktops and PCs locally, alongside all Motorola smartphones sold in India. The company has around 1,700 employees in India across three manufacturing sites.Chinese technology major Lenovo could explore designing personal computers in India to complete the entire manufacturing stack in the country and capitalise on local talent, its top India executive told ET. "The design-to-delivery is already there for phones, an end-to-end ecosystem. If you look at servers, the design capability is for 80% of the addressable portfolio. We brought in the mainstream and the GPU practices. I think the only thing which could be pending is, maybe, the PC design part. Because everything else we are doing. We can always raise that topic to move some of the PC design here, to leverage the Indian talent for that as well," said Shailendra Katyal, managing director of Lenovo India. At present, Lenovo manufactures desktops and PCs locally, alongside all Motorola smartphones sold in India. The company has around 1,700 employees in India across three manufacturing sites. Speaking of India as an attractive destination, Katyal said the country has a big revenue opportunity along with a talent pool. "The strong talent hub started with manufacturing and now it's going into the engineering and the designing part as well. So, it is a train which is in motion. It will only gather speed," Katyal said in an interview after announcing Lenovo's plans to manufacture artificial intelligence (AI) servers in India. The $57-billion hardware-focused technology firm on Tuesday said it has started building AI servers from India to complete its full stack portfolio to be now made in India. The firm said it will begin making AI servers in its Puducherry facility and has launched its AI-focused R&D lab in Bengaluru. The Puducherry plant will produce 50,000 AI rack servers and 2,400 high-end GPU units each year, helping Lenovo strengthen its supply chain for AI solutions to serve domestic demand as well as potential expansion into overseas markets. The Bengaluru lab will focus on developing and testing new server platforms including hardware, firmware, and software. It is part of Lenovo's global R&D network of 18 labs, with four critical labs in the US, China, and Taiwan. Currently, Taiwan produces the bulk of the world's AI servers, which are used by technology giants including Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia. In India, Katyal said while the company is participating in the IT hardware production linked incentive (PLI) scheme, its application before the Centre for the government supplies market has been pending since November last year. "Because of GFR (general financial rules), which came in 2020, right now, the government market is not addressable for us in some form. It's an important part of the market, and the request is pending with the government," he said. Lenovo has evolved in India from a sales and marketing setup. The company set up a research & development (R&D) centre for its mobile device brand Motorola in India 10 years ago and has been manufacturing in the country since 2005. It produced over seven million devices last year. It has expanded into web development, analytics and building solutions out of India with the growing software coding talent here. It is also working on CX or customer experience technology based here. Katyal expects seeing newer job roles in the space relating to cyber resiliency and remote infrastructure monitoring. For now, the Puducherry plant will produce enterprise AI and GPU servers for AI workloads, designed to meet the growing demands of local and international markets. These servers, featuring Lenovo's advanced 8-way GPU architecture, will address the booming AI infrastructure needs, with over 60% of the production slated for export across the Asia-Pacific region.

Lenovo ups its India play; To make AI servers, export over 60% products

Chinese IT hardware manufacturer, Lenovo, has upped its India manufacturing play. The company, which has been selected in the Rs 17,000-crore, IT production-linked incentive scheme, has now decided to start manufacturing 50,000 graphics processing units-based AI servers in India next year. Lenovo India managing director Shailendra Katiyal said on Tuesday that the company will make servers locally and also export them from its manufacturing unit in Puducherry. Over 60% of the produce will be for export across the Asia-Pacific region. The company is also setting up its fourth-largest research and development centre in India, according to Lenovo India, infrastructure group, managing director, Amit Luthra. He said that the Bangalore R&D centre will contribute to all five key stages of a product life cycle starting from system design, firmware and software development, product assurance, security and testing elements. Analysts see these initiatives as a strategic push by the company to enhance its technological footprint in India, aligning with the government's Made in India and AI for all vision. Lenovo, with a global revenue of $57 billion, has been generating around $2-3 billion in India over the last couple of years. The company, initially known for its personal computers and desktops, has been diversifying, with 47% of its revenue now coming from non-PC businesses, with over 60 AI solutions, 80 AI platforms, and around 165 enterprise-grade AI solutions supported by over 400 employees skilled in AI. The new R&D lab in Bengaluru enhances Lenovo's global network of 18 existing labs and is one of the four key global labs focused on infrastructure solutions, alongside centres in Morrisville, Beijing, and Taipei. The lab will also be used in system design, development, and testing of next-generation server platforms, including hardware, firmware, and software development. The Bengaluru lab is also equipped with advanced tools for electrical, design/testing, power characterisation, thermal analysis, and compliance testing. Further, the company said all future mainstream server design, developments, and new technical initiatives will be conducted at this lab.

Lenovo to make AI servers in India; opens R&D facility in Bengaluru

Lenovo announced on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) it will start making AI servers at its plant in South India. The laptop-maker also opened a R&D lab in Bengaluru. The lab will focus on developing advanced server technologies, the company said. The China-based company aims to make 50,000 AI rack servers and 2,400 graphic processing unit (GPU) servers that are built especially for AI-related tasks that are compute-heavy at its plant in Puducherry. "This development marks a significant step toward achieving both Lenovo's and the Indian government's 'AI for All' vision," said Amar Babu, President - Asia Pacific, Lenovo. "We remain committed to driving India's growth as an innovation hub by expanding our global manufacturing footprint and harnessing the strength of Indian talent and the industry ecosystem for technology R&D." These servers will meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure, both in India and abroad, with more than 60% of production set for export across the Asia-Pacific region, the company stated. Global AI Chips revenue will grow 33% in 2024: Gartner Besides being shipped locally, the servers will also be exported to international markets. The plant in Puducherry already makes laptops, smartphones and notebooks for the brand. Notably, Lenovo now gets around 47% of its revenue from non-PC businesses. The Bengaluru R&D centre will be Lenovo's fourth faculty for infrastructure after Beijing, Taipei and Morrisville centres. This lab will develop and test new server platforms including hardware, firmware and software. "Our commitment to developing local talent and supporting India's tech economy is long-term," said Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director, Lenovo India. The announcement is a boost to the country's growing manufacturing capacity after Apple and Foxconn's increasing dependence on India. The AI server market is booming and is estimated to be worth $430 billion in 2033, up from just $31 billion in 2023, per Statista. Published - September 18, 2024 12:07 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit READ LATER Remove SEE ALL PRINT

Lenovo Begins AI Server Manufacturing and Unveils Infrastructure R&D Lab in India

Lenovo's full-stack portfolio now Made in IndiaLenovo to manufacture AI-enabled GPU servers in India50,000 enterprise AI servers, plus 2,400 high-end GPU units annually, set to power local and global marketsBengaluru Infrastructure R&D lab to lead global innovation & design of mainstream server technology Lenovo, a global technology leader, today announced the establishment of high-performance AI server manufacturing in India and the inauguration of its state-of-the-art Research & Development (R&D) lab dedicated to advancing Lenovo's Infrastructure Solutions. This dual milestone solidifies Lenovo's commitment to India as a critical hub for tech innovation and manufacturing, aligning with the government's 'Made in India' and 'AI for All' vision. Lenovo has set up its manufacturing in India nearly two decades ago and R&D for Motorola 10 years ago. In the past several months, Lenovo has achieved three major milestones in India, including the inauguration of the Global Shared Support Center and the launch of PMA-compliant PCs with made-in-India motherboards. Today's announcement marks the next phase in Lenovo's multi-million-dollar investment plan, which includes AI server manufacturing and a new Infrastructure R&D lab, further solidifying Lenovo's commitment to India by creating thousands of economic opportunities in the high-technology skills domain. Pioneering AI Server Manufacturing in India Lenovo has started manufacturing AI servers in India, marking a significant move in the tech industry. The production line at Lenovo's Puducherry facility, operational since 2005, will now produce enterprise AI and GPU servers for AI workloads, designed to meet the growing demands of local and international markets. These servers, featuring Lenovo's advanced 8-way GPU architecture, will address the booming AI infrastructure needs, with over 60% of the production slated for export across the Asia-Pacific region. With a production capacity of around 50,000 enterprise AI rack servers annually and 2,400 high-end GPU units, Lenovo is super-charging its supply chain to not only serve domestic demand but also account for potential expansion into overseas markets. "This development marks a significant step toward achieving both Lenovo's and the Indian government's 'AI for All' vision," said Amar Babu, President - Asia Pacific, Lenovo. "We remain committed to driving India's growth as an innovation hub by expanding our global manufacturing footprint and harnessing the strength of Indian talent and the industry ecosystem for technology R&D." The Puducherry plant will manufacture five key offerings from Lenovo's portfolio, including three rack-mounted enterprise AI servers and two flagship 8-way GPU servers. These next-gen technologies are poised to drive substantial growth for Lenovo's India business in the coming year. Unveiling the Infrastructure R&D Lab: A Hub for Global Innovation In tandem with expanding its manufacturing footprint, Lenovo has launched a new Infrastructure R&D Lab in Bengaluru, India, strengthening its global network of 18 existing R&D Labs. This Bengaluru R&D facility is one of four critical labs worldwide dedicated to Infrastructure Solutions, joining server design and development centers in Morrisville, Beijing, and Taipei. This lab will be pivotal in the system design, development, and testing of next-generation server platforms, including hardware, firmware, and software development. "Our commitment to developing local talent and supporting India's tech economy is long-term," said Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director, Lenovo India. "With today's announcement of AI server manufacturing in India, we complete Lenovo's pocket-to-cloud technologies 'Made in India' for the world. The Infrastructure R&D Lab's focus on designing and developing next-generation mainstream servers further underscores Lenovo's dedication to 'R&D in India for the world.'" The Bengaluru lab is equipped with advanced tools for electrical, design/testing, power characterization, thermal analysis, and compliance testing, ensuring that innovations are rigorously tested before global deployment. All future mainstream server design, developments, and new technical initiatives will be conducted at this lab, fostering an unbeatable approach to platform R&D in India and contributing to Lenovo's global R&D initiatives. These efforts are part of Lenovo's rich tradition of incentivizing research and development, as evidenced by the company's increased global R&D spend of $2.3 billion for FY23-24. Commitment to "Smarter Technology for All" These initiatives underscore Lenovo's commitment to investing in India, where it has been manufacturing technology solutions since 2005, spanning from PCs to mobile devices. With over seven million devices produced in India during FY23-24, Lenovo is enhancing its manufacturing and R&D capabilities, positioning India as a crucial component of its global network, which includes over 30+ manufacturing sites across nine markets. "As we enter the AI decade, these investments are critical to delivering best-in-class AI infrastructure and Large Language Model solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers," said Amit Luthra, Managing Director, Lenovo ISG India. "We are excited about the growth potential this brings, not just for Lenovo, but for India as a global innovation hub." Lenovo's investment in AI server manufacturing and the Infrastructure R&D Lab in India reflects its broader strategy to lead in the era of intelligent transformation, offering "smarter AI for all" while contributing to India's technological and economic growth. About Lenovo Lenovo is a US$57 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #248 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world's largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services. Lenovo's continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

China's Lenovo to make AI servers in India, opens new AI-centric lab

BENGALURU, Sept 17 (Reuters) - China's Lenovo Group (0992.HK), opens new tab will start making artificial intelligence (AI) servers at its plant in southern India and opened an AI servers-focussed R&D lab in the tech hub of Bengaluru, the electronics hardware maker said on Tuesday. Lenovo said it aims to make 50,000 AI rack servers and 2,400 graphic processing unit (GPU) servers, which are designed specifically for resource-heavy tasks like machine learning, annually at the plant in Puducherry. Advertisement · Scroll to continue "The servers are not only for local consumption but also for exports," Amar Babu, president of Asia Pacific at Lenovo, told Reuters. He declined to disclose any investment or hiring targets for the R&D lab or the Puducherry plant, at which Lenovo already makes laptops, notebooks and personal computers (PCs). The demand for GPUs or AI chips has skyrocketed since the generative AI wave that kicked off in late 2023, boosting the fortunes of the likes of Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab and AMD . Advertisement · Scroll to continue AI hardware is expected to corner 12% of the global AI market, which is to nearly triple to $380 billion in 2027, according to a Nasscom-BCG report released earlier this year. Lenovo, which gets about 47% of its revenue from its non-PC businesses, follows the likes of Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, Foxconn (2317.TW), opens new tab and Dell (DELL.N), opens new tab in increasing manufacturing capacity in India, in part to lower their dependence on China. India too has been luring companies, including tech-focussed ones, by providing manufacturing-linked incentives. While the AI-server manufacturing plan is not linked to any government incentive scheme, its partnership with India's Dixon Technologies (DIXO.NS), opens new tab to make PCs and Motorola phones does take advantage such schemes, said Babu. Reporting by Sai Ishwarbharath B; Editing by Savio D'Souza Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Lenovo Begins AI GPU Manufacturing in India and Unveils New R&D Lab

Lenovo has announced the launch of AI server manufacturing in India alongside the inauguration of a new Infrastructure R&D lab in Bengaluru. This development is part of Lenovo's strategy to enhance its global manufacturing and R&D capabilities, aligning with India's 'Made in India' and 'AI for All' initiatives. The new AI server production line, based at Lenovo's Puducherry facility, will manufacture up to 50,000 enterprise AI servers and 2,400 high-end GPU units annually. More than 60% of this production will be exported to Asia-Pacific markets, meeting the rising demand for AI infrastructure both domestically and internationally. "This development marks a significant step toward achieving both Lenovo's and the Indian government's 'AI for All' vision," said Amar Babu, President - Asia Pacific, Lenovo. "We remain committed to driving India's growth as an innovation hub by expanding our global manufacturing footprint and harnessing the strength of Indian talent and the industry ecosystem for technology R&D." Lenovo has been operational in India since 2005 and recently achieved milestones such as the Global Shared Support Center and PMA-compliant PCs with locally manufactured motherboards. The new investments in AI server manufacturing and R&D further solidify Lenovo's commitment to India's tech ecosystem and economic growth. The Bengaluru R&D lab will play a crucial role in the development and testing of next-generation server platforms, including hardware, firmware, and software. This facility joins Lenovo's global network of 18 R&D labs and is one of four dedicated to Infrastructure Solutions. Lenovo's increased focus on AI infrastructure and R&D underscores its dedication to advancing technology and innovation in India. The company's global R&D spend has risen to $2.3 billion for FY23-24, highlighting its commitment to driving technological advancements.

China's Lenovo to Make AI Servers in India, Opens New AI-Centric Lab

BENGALURU (Reuters) - China's Lenovo Group will start making artificial intelligence (AI) servers at its plant in southern India and opened an AI servers-focussed R&D lab in the tech hub of Bengaluru, the electronics hardware maker said on Tuesday. Lenovo said it aims to make 50,000 AI rack servers and 2,400 graphic processing unit (GPU) servers, which are designed specifically for resource-heavy tasks like machine learning, annually at the plant in Puducherry. "The servers are not only for local consumption but also for exports," Amar Babu, president of Asia Pacific at Lenovo, told Reuters. He declined to disclose any investment or hiring targets for the R&D lab or the Puducherry plant, at which Lenovo already makes laptops, notebooks and personal computers (PCs). The demand for GPUs or AI chips has skyrocketed since the generative AI wave that kicked off in late 2023, boosting the fortunes of the likes of Nvidia and AMD. AI hardware is expected to corner 12% of the global AI market, which is to nearly triple to $380 billion in 2027, according to a Nasscom-BCG report released earlier this year. Lenovo, which gets about 47% of its revenue from its non-PC businesses, follows the likes of Apple, Foxconn and Dell in increasing manufacturing capacity in India, in part to lower their dependence on China. India too has been luring companies, including tech-focussed ones, by providing manufacturing-linked incentives. While the AI-server manufacturing plan is not linked to any government incentive scheme, its partnership with India's Dixon Technologies to make PCs and Motorola phones does take advantage such schemes, said Babu. (Reporting by Sai Ishwarbharath B; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

Lenovo to make AI servers in Pondicherry as company's India push deepens

Lenovo Group Ltd. started building AI servers in India's south, the latest boon for the rapidly growing country's push to become a high-tech powerhouse. The company said Tuesday it has started making the large, powerful computers in Pondicherry, southeastern India, moving beyond products such as laptops and smartphones. The Chinese company will also build out its facilities in the Bangalore region, including a research lab with a focus on artificial intelligence. Lenovo's plans mark another win for India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries to attract more technology investment into the country. While India's tense relationship with China has suffered setbacks in recent years, global tech companies see it as an attractive option to build out operations as Beijing and Washington are mired in a trade war. The servers perform the computations needed to run services including generative AI, made famous by apps such as ChatGPT. The addition of AI servers means Lenovo will make its entire stack of hardware in India for the domestic as well as export markets, underscoring the country's importance for the company. While India's tech manufacturing sector is still small compared with China, it has been catching up and now makes increasingly sophisticated products such as iPhones. AI servers represent another milestone, showing India can offer an alternative to regions with more established high-end manufacturing industries. Taiwan currently produces the bulk of the world's AI servers, which are used by technology giants such as Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. But with geopolitical tensions on the rise between China and the West, companies are under pressure to shift manufacturing outside Taiwan. Demand for generative AI tools and applications has sent the need for related hardware soaring, with electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group last year predicting that annual sales of AI servers could touch $150 billion by 2027.

China's Lenovo to make AI servers in India, opens new AI-centric lab

"The servers are not only for local consumption but also for exports," Amar Babu, president of Asia Pacific at Lenovo, told Reuters. He declined to disclose any investment or hiring targets for the R&D lab or the Puducherry plant, at which Lenovo already makes laptops, notebooks and personal computers (PCs). The demand for GPUs or AI chips has skyrocketed since the generative AI wave that kicked off in late 2023, boosting the fortunes of the likes of Nvidia and AMD. AI hardware is expected to corner 12% of the global AI market, which is to nearly triple to $380 billion in 2027, according to a Nasscom-BCG report released earlier this year. Lenovo, which gets about 47% of its revenue from its non-PC businesses, follows the likes of Apple, Foxconn and Dell in increasing manufacturing capacity in India, in part to lower their dependence on China. India too has been luring companies, including tech-focussed ones, by providing manufacturing-linked incentives. While the AI-server manufacturing plan is not linked to any government incentive scheme, its partnership with India's Dixon Technologies to make PCs and Motorola phones does take advantage such schemes, said Babu. (Reporting by Sai Ishwarbharath B; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

Lenovo starts making AI servers in India | Mint

The company's production line at its Puducherry facility, operational since 2005, will produce enterprise AI and GPU servers for AI workloads, and cater to demand from local and international markets, the company said at the launch of its infrastructure research and development (R&D) lab on Tuesday. While these servers would be used internally, about 60% of the production capacity is meant for exports across Asia-Pacific, it said. The move will make Lenovo one of the first companies to make AI servers in the country under the government's incentive scheme, putting India on the global map as an alternative manufacturing destination to China, Taiwan and others for high-end IT hardware. AI servers will be high-demand products in the coming years as consumers and enterprises use more and more generative AI, which requires a far larger computing power which is provided by data or AI servers.

Amid Digital Innovation Push, Lenovo Hops On AI Server Manufacturing Bandwagon In India

The PLI for large-scale electronics manufacturing was introduced in 2020. It provides manufacturers with incentives to encourage domestic production. Amid India rapidly pushing its growth to become a leading artificial intelligence hub, Chinese technology major Lenovo has reportedly started building AI servers in the country's southern pocket, moving beyond products such as laptops and smartphones. According to Bloomberg's report, the company has kicked off manufacturing large and powerful computers in Puducherry. Lenovo is also planning to develop its units in Bengaluru, which will also include an AI-focused research lab. Earlier this year, it was reported that the company has been evaluating manufacturing of servers in India to take advantage of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for IT hardware. Back then, the company's senior vice president, Infrastructure Solutions Group Vlad Rozanovich said that this was in tandem with the growth of its data centre solutions business, as the company expects its infrastructure solutions group (ISG) vertical to record double digit growth. Notably, Lenovo acquired Motorola in 2014. The China based tech giant also makes desktops and personal computers locally in India, besides all Motorola smartphones. Motorola was also an early beneficiary of the Centre's PLI for mobile phone manufacturing. The PLI for large-scale electronics manufacturing was introduced in 2020. It provides manufacturers with incentives to encourage domestic production. Lately, the push by the government and the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Washington have resulted in iPhone manufacturer Apple shifting some of its production to India. The company plans to make 25% of its iPhones in India by 2028. Meanwhile, another Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi, which is currently manufacturing wireless audio products in India, is also said to be looking to start smartphone production in the country. Foxconn, the Apple manufacturer from China, was also mulling to manufacture servers in India earlier this year. Notably, the company builds AI servers for global technology giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nvidia. Further, tech giant Google has also announced its plans to begin production of Pixel smartphones in India in partnership with Foxconn's Indian subsidiary.

Lenovo to manufacture servers in India, opens R&D facility in Bengaluru | India News - Times of India

BENGALURU: Lenovo on Tuesday announced plans to manufacture artificial intelligence servers in India and inaugurated a new R&D lab in Bengaluru. The company will begin producing AI-enabled GPU servers at its existing facility in Puducherry, which has been operational since 2005. The production line has an annual production capacity of around 50,000 enterprise AI rack servers and 2,400 high-end GPU units.Over 60% of production is slated for export across the Asia-Pacific region.

Lenovo Inaugurates AI Server Manufacturing and Infrastructure R&D Lab in India

Lenovo, announced the establishment of high-performance AI server manufacturing in India and the inauguration of its state-of-the-art Research & Development (R&D) lab dedicated to advancing Lenovo's Infrastructure Solutions. This dual milestone solidifies Lenovo's commitment to India as a critical hub for tech innovation and manufacturing, aligning with the government's 'Made in India' and 'AI for All' vision. Lenovo has set up its manufacturing in India nearly two decades ago and R&D for Motorola 10 years ago. In the past several months, Lenovo has achieved three major milestones in India, including the inauguration of the Global Shared Support Center and the launch of PMA-compliant PCs with made-in-India motherboards. Today's announcement marks the next phase in Lenovo's multi-million-dollar investment plan, which includes AI server manufacturing and a new Infrastructure R&D lab, further solidifying Lenovo's commitment to India by creating thousands of economic opportunities in the high-technology skills domain.

Lenovo's AI Server Plant: A Boost for India's Economy

Lenovo Indian AI Plans: Set up in Pondicherry and expand in Bengaluru. The Lenovo Group Ltd. has started manufacturing AI servers in Pondicherry, India. A major leap for India toward achieving the dream of becoming a high-tech hub. The Chinese technology giant will be setting up its third research lab, specializing in artificial intelligence, besides expanding its operation in Bangalore. This investment falls under the efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise technology investments in India.

Lenovo to Make AI Servers in India as Nation's Tech Push Deepens

Lenovo Group Ltd. started building AI servers in India's south, the latest boon for the rapidly growing country's push to become a high-tech powerhouse. The company said Tuesday it has started making the large, powerful computers in Pondicherry, southeastern India, moving beyond products such as laptops and smartphones. The Chinese company will also build out its facilities in the Bangalore region, including a research lab with a focus on artificial intelligence.

Lenovo Fuels the Next Wave of AI Dominance From India

"We've spent over $2 billion in R&D, a growth of almost 50% year on year," said Amit Luthra, managing director, ISG, Lenovo India. Earlier this year, when AIM spoke to Lenovo's Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) leadership team, we were certain that Lenovo would be fuelling India's hyperscaler ambitions. That prediction couldn't have been more accurate. The global tech leader has announced its full-stack portfolio, which is completely 'Made in India'. The company inaugurated its state-of-the-art research and development lab in Bengaluru, making it the fourth city to host an infrastructure R&D lab globally, after Raleigh, Beijing, and Taipei. In total, the company operates 18 R&D labs. "We spent over $2 billion on R&D, a growth of almost 50% year on year. One in every four employees are in our research and development [team], and the reason I'm calling that out is that it's the core of the company," said Amit Luthra, managing director, ISG, Lenovo India, at the launch of the AI Lab at Lenovo's Bengaluru campus. The company also revealed its AI server manufacturing plans, announcing that AI-enabled GPU servers will be built right here in India. As many as 50,000 enterprise AI servers with 2400 high-end GPU units will power local and global markets. "Today, the government has committed 10,000+ GPU-strong ecosystem in public-private partnership to ensure that these AI workloads get the horsepower [needed] to run these technologies. Now with this, it's very important to see how Lenovo is actually grabbing this opportunity, and most importantly, helping organisations as they move ahead in this AI transformation journey," said Luthra. "I think it's a great opportunity for us to actually build the lab over here. It's no secret that there's a lot of innovation and great resources in India," said Sumir Bhatia, president, Asia Pacific, ISG at Lenovo, in an exclusive interaction with AIM on the sidelines of the lab launch. Bhatia explains that the lab isn't just for India - it has a global focus. He believes it will be part of a larger billion-dollar project and will work with other labs that specialise in different areas, also ensuring that this approach allows all labs to collaborate and contribute to a global network. The collaboration paves way for further partnerships as well. "We are very globally tied in with the other design centres. So, we complement some of the areas, like some of the high-speed and power integrity stuff, which we focus on. We work with the other centres as well. So, it works out beautifully," Satish Pratapneni, director, system dev at Lenovo, told AIM. He emphasised that the company does not take a one-sided approach. When it comes to full-fledged capabilities, they believe they have a lot to offer on the other side as well. He also highlighted why India's growing technical expertise is taking centre stage. Inside Lenovo's new R&D lab in Bengaluru The company has been going strong in its focus on building an end-to-end solution for AI infrastructure, from servers to PCs. It not only posted strong revenues in the recent quarterly report but also attributed 47% of it to non-PC revenue. The AI server manufacturing unit in Puducherry will be Lenovo's fifth manufacturing hub in the world, following USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Hungary. All this growth is also intertwined with a number of strategic partnerships. Top AI player, NVIDIA, has been a key collaborator for Lenovo. In October last year, the two companies revealed their partnership and expansion plans aimed at making generative AI more accessible to enterprises. Bhatia stressed that partnering with industry giants runs deep in their ecosystem. "It's in our DNA to make sure that we're partnering with the best, because this is what will bring solutions to our customers. So, whether it's NVIDIA, Red Hat, Nutanix, Intel, or AMD, we've got the whole ecosystem and are building platforms and solutions around that," he said. Lenovo has over 60 AI solution providers globally, and has delivered more than 165 solutions. Meanwhile, the company is focusing on building skilled resources from the ground up, and investing in academia too. Discussions are underway with schools, including second and first-year programs. The goal is to engage more with institutions to train the trainers and embed the desired skills from the start. AI specialists is another area of investment, "We've got over 400 AI specialists who know AI end-to-end," said Bhatia.

Lenovo begins AI server production in India, opens R-D lab in Bengaluru

Amar Babu, president - Asia Pacific, Lenovo, said, "This development marks a significant step toward achieving both Lenovo's and the Indian government's 'AI for All' vision. We remain committed to driving India's growth as an innovation hub by expanding our global manufacturing footprint and harnessing the strength of Indian talent and the industry ecosystem for technology R&D."

Lenovo to build AI servers in India as nation's tech push deepens

While India's tech manufacturing sector is still small compared with China, it has been catching up and now makes increasingly sophisticated products such as iPhones. AI servers represent another milestone, showing India can offer an alternative to regions with more established high-end manufacturing industries. Taiwan currently produces the bulk of the world's AI servers, which are used by technology giants such as Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. But with geopolitical tensions on the rise between China and the West, companies are under pressure to shift manufacturing outside Taiwan. Demand for generative AI tools and applications has sent the need for related hardware soaring, with electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group last year predicting that annual sales of AI servers could touch $150 billion by 2027.

Lenovo to make AI servers in India as nation's tech push deepens

Taiwan currently produces the bulk of the world's AI servers, which are used by technology giants such as Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. But with geopolitical tensions on the rise between China and the West, companies are under pressure to shift manufacturing outside Taiwan. Demand for generative AI tools and applications has sent the need for related hardware soaring, with electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group last year predicting that annual sales of AI servers could touch $150 billion by 2027.