Zero Genie

(KTAR News Photo/Griselda Zetino)

PHOENIX – Infosys, a global digital services and consulting firm, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in Scottsdale to launch its technology and innovation center.

The center will be housed temporarily at the Arizona State University Scottsdale Innovation Center at SkySong, which is located at Scottsdale and McDowell roads.

A 60,000-square-foot permanent facility, with space for 500 employees, will be built by 2020 in ASU’s Novus Innovation Corridor south of Tempe Town Lake, according to a press release.

Infosys, which already started hiring, has pledged to add a total of 1,000 jobs in Arizona by 2023.

The company’s Arizona Technology and Innovation Center will focus on autonomous technology, the internet of things, full-stack engineering, data science and cybersecurity, the release said.

“We are excited that Infosys, a global leader in information technology, has put down its roots in our state, a decision which reinforces Arizona’s reputation as a tech industry leader,” Gov. Doug Ducey, who spoke during the ceremony, said in the release. “We will continue to keep Arizona the best place in the nation for companies to relocate to and expand.”

Infosys announced plans for the innovation center during a press conference in September 2018. Ducey, ASU President Michael Crow and Infosys President Ravi Kumar were present for the original announcement as well as Friday’s ceremony. U.S. Sen. Martha McSally also was in attendance Friday.

ASU has entered into a partnership with Infosys so its employees can complete degrees and take continuing education classes at the university, the release said.

“This is a transformative partnership in the making with Infosys and its new technology and innovation center at a time when it is urgently needed,” Crow said in the release.

Infosys, which is based in Bangalore, India, is ranked No. 47 in Forbes’ list of best employers for new graduates.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.