The new centre will provide students access to advanced IT solutions in agricultural sector to achieve higher food production

HPE Agri

Image: HPE Pointnext Services vice president Sanjay Mujoo (Right) and Ramji Raghavan during the signing of the MoU. Photo: Courtesy of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Agastya International Foundation to set up a fully-equipped Center of Excellence (CoE) at the latter’s campus in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Located in Gudipalli, Chittoor district, the new centre will focus on imparting skills to students in emerging technologies and develop their knowledge in areas of Internet of Things (IoT) and computing programming.

The facility will offer students access to advanced IT solutions in agricultural sector to achieve higher food production from finite land resources.

HPE India managing director Som Satsangi said: “Technology can play a vital role in addressing rapidly-evolving global needs related to food and agriculture. Being a purpose-driven organization, we are leveraging previously untapped resources to reveal new solutions for such social and environmental challenges.

“The launch of this CoE in partnership with Agastya International Foundation will train the youth of our country on the technology to improve yield, productivity and sustainability across the entire agricultural ecosystem.”

Agastya International Foundation will identify and enrol underprivileged, undergraduate computer science or engineering students around Gudipalli, Chittoor district.

Under the guidance of IoT experts from the tech giant, students will receive the opportunity to work with fertility experts on agriculture-related projects. For its part, HPE will train students in the areas of IoT and computer programming, is also expected to improve their employment opportunities.

Agastya International Foundation founder and chairman Ramji Raghavan said: “Food security is amongst the most critical issues facing society today, making it crucial for industry, technology, academia and government to come together and solve such global challenges.

“We are happy to partner with HPE to setup this CoE, which demonstrates our commitment to spark curiosity, nurture creativity, and instill confidence in our youth so they can leverage technology to achieve real change for society.”

At the new centre, the technology company will deploy its solutions such as the HPE Edgeline EL300 Converged Edge System, HPE Edgeline OT Link Platform and HPE Edgeline EL4000 Converged Edge System. The facility will also have access to Microsoft Azure Cloud Services.

Bangalore-based HPE Pointnext Global Customer Solution Center (CSC) will offer solution expertise and incubation support for the CoE.