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When we think of tech revolutions, flashy startups, and glitzy Silicon Valley corporations often come to mind. But sometimes, the most influential entities are the quiet ones, diligently working behind the scenes to lay the foundation for the future. In West Bengal, that quiet force is WEBEL—the West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Limited. Since its establishment in 1974, by the Government of West Bengal, it has been the key architect of the state’s IT and electronics landscape, shaping it into one of India’s major tech hubs. As it marks its 50th anniversary, the achievements of WEBEL speak for themselves: from developing infrastructure to supporting cuttingedge technologies, it has remained determined in its mission to transform West Bengal into a global technology leader.

Laying the Foundation for Electronics and IT

When WEBEL was founded in 1974, West Bengal had limited infrastructure for electronics and information technology (IT). Recognising the potential of the electronics sector, the government initiated the corporation to promote industrial development in this field. Initially, it focused on manufacturing electronic components like quartz crystals and electrolytic capacitors. WEBEL also played a key role in producing consumer electronics, including television sets. This early focus helped lay the groundwork for the electronics industry in the state.

With the shift in global trends, WEBEL expanded its vision, transforming itself into an organisation that also embraced IT and digital technologies. This marked the beginning of its journey as the stimulus for technological growth in West Bengal.

The first significant milestone came with the development of the Salt Lake Electronics Complex (SALTLEC) in 1989, India’s first fully integrated electronics park, located in Bidhannagar, Kolkata. It became the centre for electronics and IT companies, attracting investments and creating thousands of jobs. SALTLEC’s development indicated a turning point for West Bengal’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, where companies were able to collaborate, innovate, and grow. Today, its name is synonymous with IT excellence, serving as the home base for numerous multinational corporations, startups, and research facilities.

Vision and Mission

WEBEL was formed with the vision of becoming the top organisation in IT, ITeS, and Electronics by offering crucial solutions to the government and bringing in the latest technology and innovations to the people. The corporation also aimed to lead in IT and Electronics education to create jobs, focus on research and development, manufacture products and provide advice to organisations both in India and around the world.

To turn this vision into reality, WEBEL set the following as its mission to help the government:

• Bringing IT, electronics, and related services to every part of the state to create more jobs and boost the economy.
• Upskilling and reskilling the current workforce to prepare them for new and emerging technologies.
• Creating a business-friendly environment to attract IT and electronics companies, increasing West Bengal’s role in making electronics and related services.
• Building a strong IT system to make key industries work better and improve the lives of ordinary people in the state.
• Using top educational and research institutions in IT and electronics in West Bengal for growth.
• Providing the needed infrastructure to support and grow startups in IT, electronics, and related fields.

Also Read :- India’s Rapid IT Revolution: Leading the Global Digital Landscape

A Legacy of Success Over the decades

WEBEL has accomplished several milestones:

Creating IT Parks Across the State: Department of Information Technology and Electronics, Government of West Bengal, through WEBEL, has established over 26 IT parks in West Bengal. These parks serve as incubation centres for startups, small enterprises, and global technology giants, and are located in a way that ensures connectivity and accessibility.

Electronic Manufacturing Clusters (EMC): To attract large-scale electronics manufacturing, WEBEL has come up with Electronic Manufacturing Clusters. These clusters provide a complete ecosystem to the manufacturer of electronic goods, with all the physical resources required, labour, and even logistics support. The EMC enables a self-supporting cycle of producers, suppliers, and logistics providers who are interdependent in order to ensure smoothness in the supply chain and enhance productivity.

Hardware Parks: The hardware parks developed by WEBEL address the specific needs of the manufacturing units by offering industrial infrastructure tailor-made for the production of hardware. The basic infrastructure includes the assembly line, clean rooms, and logistic support that enable the enterprises to save on production time and focus on quality output.

E-Governance Projects: WEBEL has implemented numerous e-governance projects in West Bengal, like the West Bengal State Wide Area Network (WBSWAN), which has improved communication and data sharing across government departments, leading to better governance.

Turnkey Projects: It has undertaken turnkey projects beyond state borders. These include the Automatic Message Switching System at Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal and the Toll Collection System at Vidyasagar Setu in Kolkata.

Digital Education: Its Education and Training Division, formerly known as WEBEL Informatics Limited, trains approximately 12,000 professionals annually, helping improve their employability, and equipping them with skills like data analytics, cybersecurity, and software development. Additionally, the WEBEL Animation Academy has been one of the most recognised centres that provide both creative and technical training to encourage digital media talents. It offers courses from beginner to professional levels in the fields of computer graphics, animation, AI, and IoT.

Adapting to Emerging Technologies The corporation has been focusing on emerging technologies by investing in research and development (R&D).

Centres of Excellence: To promote research and development (R&D), WEBEL has set up Centres of Excellence that serve as innovation hubs focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These centres give space to collaborations between academia, startups, and the private sector. An example would be WEBEL’s support of AI applications that promote agriculture through crop monitoring and enabling predictive analytics, improve finance by enhancing fraud detection and deepening customer insight, and enhance education through adaptive learning platforms.

Drone Technology: Drones have emerged as very effective tools that are finding increasing applications in a host of areas: from surveillance and agriculture to inspecting infrastructure. WEBEL’s Drone Technology initiatives aim to capture these different applications by delivering solutions for operational safety, precision, and efficiency. For example, drones applied to agriculture allow for real-time monitoring of crop health, while drones deployed in infrastructure inspection ensure timely maintenance of critical facilities.

Supporting the Startup Ecosystem: It actively supports startups, providing them with funding, mentorship, and infrastructure. Initiatives like the WEBEL Incubation Centre have helped many startups scale their operations and bring innovative products to market.

Environmental and Public Health Services: Projects on e-waste management, air quality monitoring, and noise pollution control have contributed towards the health and well-being of citizens as WEBEL has encouraged their engagement to tackle environmental challenges in highdensity areas.

Impact on West Bengal’s Economy

The corporation’s contributions to West Bengal’s economy have created thousands of jobs and attracted numerous investments to the state.

Job Creation: The IT parks and electronic hubs have generated employment opportunities across various skill levels. From technicians and engineers to software developers and project managers, the corporation has supported the livelihoods of countless individuals.

Attracting Investments: Due to the world-class infrastructure and businessfriendly environment offered by WEBEL, global technology companies have brought in attractive investments, along with an influx of capital. This has boosted West Bengal’s GDP and established the state as one of the major players in the technology sectors in the country.

Uplifting Communities Through Digital Inclusivity

The promotion of digital inclusivity, in addition to the numerous initiatives launched by the corporation, has helped technology reach even the most remote corners of West Bengal.

Rural Connectivity: By providing better connectivity in rural areas, WEBEL has helped residents access online government services, thus simplifying daily tasks, and reducing the digital gap between rural and urban communities.

Skill Development Programs: Numerous skill development programmes have been conducted by the corporation targeting the youth in rural areas. It has helped them improve their employability, increasing the chances of leading better livelihoods.

Supporting the Government’s Vision

WEBEL has been persistent in integrating technology into public services, aligning with the objectives set by the government. The expansion of ICT infrastructure and pioneering projects like telemedicine by the corporation have further reinforced the government’s efforts towards modernisation initiatives for healthcare and other major public services, particularly in rural areas. For example, its telemedicine projects address the gap in healthcare availability within remote areas by facilitating consultations and treatment using digital channels.

Strengthening Today’s Cyber Defences for a Secure Tomorrow

The corporation is taking measures today to make sure that the challenges of tomorrow are faced head-on.

Finished Projects

Centre of Excellence on Big Data and AI/ML: WEBEL has created a Centre of Excellence to improve public service delivery, support academic institutions, and address social challenges using Big Data and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.

Cyber Security Operation Centre: The Next Generation Cyber Security Operation Centre has been launched to protect West Bengal’s critical infrastructure. It also provides security services to public sector units and corporations.

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Ongoing Projects

Siliguri Data Centre: A new data centre in Siliguri is being built to offer GPU services for AI model training, benefiting government departments, higher education, and software vendors.

FTTH Implementation: WEBEL is rolling out fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections to Gram Panchayats. This will deliver highspeed internet, IPTV, OTT services, and digital solutions for households and businesses, boosting digital empowerment across the state.

Kurseong IT Park: An IT Park in Kurseong is under development to create jobs, reduce brain drain, and drive regional economic growth.

Bengal Silicon Valley IT Park: WEBEL is developing a high-tech IT park at the Bengal Silicon Valley Hub in New Town. This aims to attract investments, foster innovation, and create a globally recognised IT hub.

Integrated Check Post Upgrades: It is upgrading Integrated Check Posts on the Indo-Bangladesh border to improve vehicle clearance efficiency and security.

Cyber Forensic Lab: A cyber forensic lab is being developed to enhance cyber investigation and research. It will offer training, analysis services, and a revenue model for sustainable operation.

Centre of Innovations on Sensors and Systems: It is establishing a centre focused on research and development in advanced sensor technologies.

Upcoming Projects

5G Centre of Excellence: Plans are underway to create a centre to drive advancements in next-generation 5G technology.

SMART Energy Meter Testing Lab: It is setting up a lab to support smart energy infrastructure by testing energy meters.

Drone Academy: A Drone Academy will be established to train individuals in drone technology for various industries.

Strategic Collaborations

Webel is partnering with institutions like the University of Calcutta, St. Xavier’s University, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to enhance skill development and training in the state.

As WEBEL completes 50 years, it accomplishes the feat of several milestone achievements and significant contributions towards the growth of West Bengal’s IT and electronics sectors. From its humble beginning as a small organisation engaged in the development of electronics, it has emerged as a leading player in IT, ITeS, and electronics, thus becoming symbolic of the transformation of the State into a major technology powerhouse of the country. This anniversary provides an opportunity to look at the journey that the corporation has undertaken, capturing resilience, and adaptability, and a peek into the vision ahead. Over each successive decade, it has helped West Bengal emerge as a powerhouse in technology, pride in firstorder investment, job creation, and innovation. This is its heritage built over five decades and reflects the sustainable impact WEBEL has had upon the economic and social landscape in the state.

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