HCLTech and NVIDIA Open AI Innovation Lab in Santa Clara Using Full NVIDIA Stack
When I saw HCLTech and NVIDIA sign a deal for a joint AI lab in Santa Clara, the first thing that struck me was the sheer size of the two players putting everything under one roof. HCLTech, the global IT services firm, is teaming up with NVIDIA - the chipmaker behind most of today’s AI hype - to open a physical innovation center on the West Coast. The idea is simple on paper: blend NVIDIA’s hardware and software platforms with HCLTech’s AI-focused product suite and give developers and enterprises a shared testbed.
In practice, though, building a space where engineers can tinker with edge devices, digital twins and everything in between takes more than a few desks. It probably needs a coordinated stack of tools, simulations and deployment frameworks that can juggle autonomous-vehicle data streams and immersive 3-D environments. The goal appears to be a place where customers can prototype, validate and scale solutions without cobbling together a patchwork of components.
That sets the scene for the deeper dive into the technologies and portfolios that will live in the lab.
The lab will leverage the full NVIDIA technology stack, including NVIDIA Omniverse, NVIDIA Metropolis, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, NVIDIA Jetson and NVIDIA Holoscan, in combination with HCLTech's portfolio of physical AI solutions such as VisionX, Kinetic AI, IEdgeX and SmartTwin. The goal is to enable Global 2000 organisations to simulate, test and deploy robotics, automation and edge intelligence systems that improve competitiveness and real-world operational efficiency. "Generative physical AI is set to revolutionize industrial automation, but bridging the gap from digital simulation to real-world deployment remains a critical challenge," said Deepu Talla, VP of robotics and rdge AI at NVIDIA.
"HCLTech's innovation lab will help enterprises develop, test and validate the complex autonomous systems needed to turn AI ambitions into operational reality." Vijay Guntur, CTO and head of ecosystems at HCLTech, said the collaboration strengthens the companies' joint focus on industrial AI. "By combining HCLTech's global AI Engineering capabilities with NVIDIA's cutting-edge platforms, this new collaboration marks a pivotal step in strengthening our synergy in the Physical AI space," Guntur said. "It empowers enterprises to reimagine physical operations, driving breakthroughs in robotics, automation, safety and operational intelligence, reinforcing our commitment to scaling AI-led transformation across industries and further deepening our strategic collaboration with NVIDIA." HCLTech's physical AI solutions integrate robotics, autonomous systems, intelligent edge technologies, simulation and digital twins to help enterprises enhance productivity, resilience and sustainability in live operational environments.
HCLTech and NVIDIA are betting that their new Santa Clara lab will nudge global firms toward physical-AI faster. The space plugs into HCLTech’s existing AI Lab network and gives engineers a place to tinker with cognitive-robotics prototypes before they try to roll them out. Inside, you’ll find the full NVIDIA stack - Omniverse, Metropolis, Isaac Sim, Jetson and Holoscan - hooked up to HCLTech’s VisionX, Kinetic AI, IEdgeX and SmartTwin tools.
In theory that makes it a one-stop shop for anyone who wants to go from simulation straight to deployment. But it’s still fuzzy how soon customers will move past sandbox experiments and actually ship products. The lab’s fate will probably hinge on whether the bundled tech can handle the quirks of different industries without turning integration into a nightmare.
The announcement also skips over pricing, support options or concrete milestones, so questions about scale and ROI linger. All told, the centre adds a brick-and-mortar angle to an otherwise cloud-focused AI story - yet whether it will meaningfully boost enterprise adoption remains an open question.
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Common Questions Answered
What components of the NVIDIA technology stack will be available at the HCLTech‑NVIDIA AI Innovation Lab in Santa Clara?
The lab will run the full NVIDIA stack, including Omniverse for collaborative 3D simulation, Metropolis for video analytics, Isaac Sim for robotics testing, Jetson for edge AI computing, and Holoscan for real‑time data processing. These tools give developers a comprehensive environment to build and validate AI solutions.
How will HCLTech integrate its AI solutions such as VisionX and SmartTwin with NVIDIA's hardware in the new lab?
HCLTech will pair its portfolio—VisionX, Kinetic AI, IEdgeX, and SmartTwin—with NVIDIA’s platforms to create end‑to‑end physical‑AI workflows. This integration enables customers to simulate, test, and deploy robotics and edge intelligence systems on a unified hardware‑software foundation.
Which organizations are the primary target for the Santa Clara lab, and what operational benefits are promised?
The lab is aimed at Global 2000 enterprises seeking to accelerate physical‑AI adoption across their operations. By leveraging the combined stack, these firms can improve competitiveness, boost real‑world efficiency, and reduce time‑to‑market for robotics and automation projects.
In what way does the Santa Clara facility complement HCLTech’s existing AI Lab network, and how does this benefit enterprises?
The new center becomes a hands‑on extension of HCLTech’s global AI Lab network, offering a dedicated space for testing, scaling, and refining cognitive‑robotics solutions. Enterprises gain faster prototyping cycles and a one‑stop shop for both NVIDIA’s cutting‑edge tools and HCLTech’s AI services.