India's AI Spring: Powered by Databricks' $250M Bloom

Databricks, a leading US-based data and AI company, has announced a major investment of over USD 250 million in India over the next three years. This move highlights the company’s strategic focus on expanding its footprint in the country by scaling up R&D operations and cultivating local AI expertise.

The investment will fund workforce expansion—growing the India team by more than 50% to over 750 employees by the end of the current financial year—as well as support product development and advanced training programmes.

A cornerstone of this initiative is the newly launched India Data + AI Academy, designed to equip 500,000 partners and customers with in-demand skills in data, analytics, and AI. The academy offers self-paced learning, AI-powered tutoring, hands-on labs, and certifications to help position India as a global leader in AI talent.

In a significant boost to its R&D capabilities, Databricks has also opened a 105,000 sq. ft. facility in Bagmane Capital Park, Bengaluru. The center will initially host over 100 engineers, with plans to double that number within a year. This facility becomes a vital part of Databricks’ global R&D ecosystem, which spans North America and Europe.