Cigna’s Evernorth Launches First Global Innovation Hub in Hyderabad

While specific investment figures were not disclosed, Evernorth officials shared plans for the facility’s expansion.

Evernorth, the health services division of Cigna Group, has officially inaugurated its first global innovation hub outside the United States in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The facility aims to employ over 1,000 people in its initial phase and is poised to become Evernorth’s largest global capability center (GCC).

Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, along with Cigna Group’s global CIO Noelle Eder, inaugurated the innovation hub. Speaking about the decision, Eder said, “It’s not a small decision for a large Fortune 16 company like Cigna to establish an investment and presence in India with an innovation centre in Hyderabad. The reason we wanted to be in this market is to get direct access to the tech, analytics and engineering talent that Hyderabad offers, and we are so pleased with the quality of talent.”

While specific investment figures were not disclosed, Evernorth officials shared plans for the facility’s expansion.

Currently, two operational floors, each spanning approximately 1 lakh sq ft, are in use. The third floor is expected to be operational by January 2025, with the fourth by April 2025.

Yadhu Kishore Nandikolla, HR Director at Evernorth Health Services India, highlighted the company’s collaboration with educational institutions to foster local talent.

“We have kicked off our engagement with local colleges, with the first MoU being inked with Vardhaman College of Engineering in Hyderabad, where we have set up an innovation lab. We are also talking to premier institutions like IIITH, IIT-H, and BITS Pilani for research projects and building a robust talent pipeline,” he said.

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