US digital payment technology major Mastercard opened one of its biggest technology centres globally in Pune last week.
The new Pune Tech Hub will house over 6,000 technologists, engineers and experts from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, ranging from software development to finance, data architecture to cybersecurity and beyond, making it Mastercard’s largest workforce in a single city, globally, the company says.
Mastercard established its first India Tech Hub in Pune in 2014, starting with a small workforce. It has grown manifold over the past decade, and the new Tech Hub plays a crucial role in supporting Mastercard’s vital global operations across payment safety, cybersecurity, fraud detection, and digital identity, the company adds.
“Our new Tech Hub in Pune will play a pivotal part in Mastercard’s global technology strategy. As one of the key nodes for our technology operations worldwide, the new Pune Tech Hub will collaborate with other hubs around the world to build the revolutionary technologies that shape our world, powering economies to make everyday life happen. It also serves as a testament to Mastercard’s enduring commitment to empowering India, furthering its digital ambitions, and nurturing the immense talent in the country”, Ed McLaughlin, President & Chief Technology Officer, Mastercard, said.
Mastercard’s global Tech Hub ecosystem now spans Arlington, Dublin, New York, Pune, St. Louis, Sydney and Vancouver.
“India remains a strategic location for Mastercard, where we are deeply committed to investing in technologies that help the digital economy work all across the continent. Our newest Tech Hub in Pune marks a significant milestone, demonstrating Mastercard’s focus on growth in this market. With a strong team in India supporting global technological breakthroughs, we look forward to building on the work to achieve the Government of India’s ambitious digitisation goals, alongside our valued partners in the region”, Gautam Aggarwal, Division President, South Asia, Mastercard, said.
The existing workforce of Mastercard in Pune has been delivering technological solutions for India’s domestic market including initiatives like the financial inclusion platform Community Pass, the global pilot launch of the Payment Passkey Service in India which integrates biometrics and tokenisation for secure online checkout, and its role as an authorised Authentication Service Agency, enabling banking and government partners to offer Aadhaar-based services and benefits.
In addition to Pune, Mastercard has offices in Gurugram, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vadodara in India.