HCLTech Partners to Build 142.57 Billion INR AI Data Center in Odisha
Indian technology company HCLTech has partnered with the Odisha government and AI startup Sarvam to construct a 142.57 billion INR AI data center in Bhubaneswar's upcoming Sovereign AI Industrial Park. Additionally, HCLTech will establish a Global Technology Center in the city, which is expected to accommodate 5,000 employees by 2028. This massive investment accelerates India's push for "Sovereign AI" by building localized infrastructure and foundational models tailored to regional languages. It strengthens India's domestic AI ecosystem and reduces reliance on foreign technology providers for critical public and private sector applications. The project combines HCLTech's full-stack AI capabilities with Sarvam's Indic-language foundational models to deliver industry-specific applications and multilingual services. The initiative aims to make AI accessible to grassroots users across India through localized voice and speech applications.
## BACKGROUND
Sovereign AI refers to national or regional efforts to control AI infrastructure, data, and models to ensure security and cultural representation, rather than relying solely on global tech giants. Sarvam AI is a prominent Indian startup specializing in developing large language models (LLMs) and voice interfaces tailored for Indian languages and regional use cases.