GCC by industry · Higher Education & Research

Global Capability Centers for Higher Education & Research

Give researchers secure, self-service cloud and data environments, and run university platforms, from a dedicated capability center in India.

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Quick answerA GCC for higher education and research is a Global Capability Center (GCC), also called a captive center, or a dedicated offshore team that universities and research institutes use to run research computing, secure data environments, cloud for research and student-facing platforms. Relevance Lab brings its Research Gateway platform and research-cloud expertise so researchers get fast, governed access to computing and data.

We build and run GCCs in the Tier 1 hubs of Mumbai, Pune, Gurgaon, Noida, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, and in the Tier 2 city of Gandhinagar.

Why now

Why universities and research institutes are building capability centers

Research is increasingly computational. Researchers need cloud and high-performance computing, secure environments for sensitive data and tools for collaboration, and they need them quickly, without waiting weeks for IT.

Institutions must also keep control of cost, security and compliance across many projects and funders. A dedicated capability center with research-cloud expertise lets them offer self-service access with guardrails, and keep central IT focused on strategy.

Use cases

GCC for higher education and research: use cases

Typical work higher education and research GCCs take on.

Research computing

Cloud and HPC environments on demand for research projects.

Secure data environments

Trusted research environments for sensitive and regulated data.

Cloud for research

Governed cloud accounts, budgets and tooling for research groups.

Student platforms

Student portals, learning systems and campus applications.

Compliance & security

Compliance and security for higher education and research

Governance researchers don't have to think about.

  • Secure, isolated environments for sensitive research data
  • HIPAA-aligned controls for health research
  • Data privacy aligned to GDPR and DPDP
  • Budget guardrails and cost visibility per project
  • Identity federation with institutional login
  • Audit trails for funders and ethics boards

Regulated data in your GCC?

See how we keep GCCs audit-ready for data protection and industry regulation.

Regulatory Compliance
Recommended engagement models

The right model for higher education and research GCCs

Run

Managed GCC

You own the center; we run AI, cloud, DevOps, data and security functions to SLAs.

Explore the model Launch

GCC as a Service

A ready-to-run GCC in India: talent, workspace, operations and delivery from one partner.

Explore the model Optimize

GCC Optimization

More output from the GCC you already have: productivity, utilization and FinOps.

Explore the model
Case study

Higher Education & Research: a GCC in practice

Higher Education & ResearchManaged GCC

Secure research computing for universities with Research Gateway

Self-service, governed cloud research environments for universities and research institutes, built on Relevance Lab's Research Gateway.

Challenge

Give researchers fast access to cloud computing and secure data environments without losing control of cost, security or compliance.

Approach

Relevance Lab delivered and operates Research Gateway, a self-service research portal with guardrails, cost controls and secure research environments.

Outcome

Researchers can start work quickly instead of waiting on IT, while institutions keep governance and spend visibility.

See all GCC case studies

Locations

Where we build GCCs: Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities across India

We set up and run GCCs in nine Tier 1 hubs and the fast-growing Tier 2 city of Gandhinagar, so you can balance talent depth, cost and business continuity.

  • Tier 1MumbaiIndia's financial capital, with depth in banking and financial services talent.
  • Tier 1PuneDeep engineering, product and automotive technology talent.
  • Tier 1GurgaonDelhi NCR's corporate hub, with deep technology and business services talent.
  • Tier 1NoidaDelhi NCR's large IT and technology services cluster, at competitive cost.
  • Tier 1HyderabadOne of India's fastest-growing GCC hubs, with strong engineering and data talent.
  • Tier 1ChennaiStrong in SaaS, financial services technology and engineering.
  • Tier 1BangaloreIndia's largest technology talent pool and its most established GCC hub.
  • Tier 1AhmedabadGujarat's commercial hub, with a growing technology talent base at competitive cost.
  • Tier 1KolkataEastern India's largest talent market, with a large graduate pool at lower cost.
  • Tier 2GandhinagarHome to GIFT City, India's international financial services center.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about GCC for Higher Education & Research. Can't see your question?

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To run research computing, secure data environments, cloud for research and student platforms with dedicated teams, so central IT can focus on strategy while researchers get faster service.

Yes. Our research computing services give researchers governed cloud and HPC environments through Research Gateway, and our university IT outsourcing teams run student platforms and campus applications, so central IT can focus on strategy.

Research Gateway is Relevance Lab's self-service research portal. It gives researchers governed access to cloud computing and secure research environments, with cost controls and guardrails for the institution.

Through secure, isolated research environments, HIPAA-aligned controls where health data is involved, privacy controls aligned to GDPR and DPDP, and full audit trails.

Yes. Budgets and guardrails can be set per project or grant, with cost visibility for researchers and administrators.

Content last reviewed: October 2026

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Tell us where you are with your Global Capability Center (planning, launching, running or transforming) and a GCC specialist will come back with next steps.

  1. A GCC specialist reviews your goals and context.
  2. We set up a call to talk through location, model, cost and timeline.
  3. You get a recommended approach and next steps for your GCC.