The Uttar Pradesh government has signed 15 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and issued letters of comfort to five investors at the UP GCC Innovation Summit 2026 in Lucknow. The initiative aims to strengthen the state’s position as a destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), while promoting investment, innovation and high-value employment.
The summit brought together industry leaders, investors, policymakers, educational institutions and technology experts to discuss opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, talent development and global business services.
Five Investors Receive Letters of Comfort
During the summit, the state government issued letters of comfort to five companies:
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Havells India Limited
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Ameriprise India LLP
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MetLife Global Operations Support Center Private Limited
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LG Soft India Private Limited
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WSP Consultants India Private Limited
However, the government statement clarified that approval from the Industrial Development Minister and formal issuance of the letter for WSP Consultants India were still pending.
Companies Sign Agreements to Expand GCC Operations
The summit also saw agreements with companies including EY GDS, AML RightSource, Computacenter, MetLife, DSV, DAMAC, Altruist and Smartworks. These partnerships aim to establish new GCC facilities in Uttar Pradesh and expand existing operations.
Smartworks is also setting up two dedicated campuses in Lucknow, adding to the state’s efforts to attract businesses and develop infrastructure for global service operations.
The agreements are expected to support investment in technology-enabled services and create employment opportunities across different skill levels.
Partnerships with Educational Institutions
A major focus of the summit was strengthening links between industry and academia. MoUs were exchanged with 13 educational institutions to improve industry-oriented training, research and innovation.
The participating institutions include:
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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
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IIT Roorkee
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Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow
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IIT (BHU) Varanasi
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Aligarh Muslim University
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Shiv Nadar University
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Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad
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University of Lucknow
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Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Allahabad
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IIIT Lucknow
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Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University
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Amity University
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Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University
These partnerships are intended to help students develop skills suited to industry requirements, while encouraging collaboration in research, product development and emerging technologies.
Skill Development Partnerships with Major Companies
To prepare young people for changing workforce requirements, Paytm, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Barclays, IBM and Naukri entered into partnerships focused on training and skill development.
Paytm signed two MoUs under the initiative. The collaborations aim to strengthen the talent pipeline for GCCs and help young professionals gain skills relevant to technology-driven businesses.
Discussions on AI and Future Skills
The summit featured seven thematic sessions covering investment opportunities, AI-driven operations, product innovation, startup collaboration, university partnerships and future workforce requirements.
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Industry experts discussed ways to develop talent for global companies, expand research capabilities and encourage product-led innovation in India.
Uttar Pradesh’s Push to Become a GCC Hub
The summit was organised by the Alumni Association of IIT Kanpur in collaboration with Invest UP and HCLTech. The agreements and institutional partnerships reflect the state’s efforts to attract global businesses and strengthen its technology and services ecosystem.
By combining investment facilitation, industry partnerships and skill development, Uttar Pradesh aims to create a stronger foundation for GCC expansion and generate more opportunities for its young workforce.