Mindware, the software exports division of Pertech Computers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, is planning to set up a joint venture with a German company for application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designing centre in India. The designing centre which is to be located in Delhi will most probably be a 50:50 joint venture with most of the initial investment coming in from German company. The initial investment for this ASIC designing centre is to be around $5 million.

In addition to Mindware taking up ASIC designing in India, Texas Instruments, National Semiconductor, Arcus Technologies, HCL and Wipro are also involved in such designing, mostly for the US market. In addition to this joint venture, Mindware already has a dedicated ASIC designing centre for Traswitch Inc., a US-based company. Mindware is a worldwide conglomerate of software companies with a group turnover of nearly $200 million which includes one of the largest computer manufacturers in the country.

Aptech Centre for Business Transformation and KPMG Quality Registrar of UK announced a major strategic alliance to bring about a strategist thrust towards world class quality for organisations in the Asia-Pacific. The alliance will see Aptech and KPMG make available world-class authorities on quality and best practices to Asian corporates.

KPMG QR, a business unit of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, delivers accredited third party ISO 9000 and QS 9000 registration services to organisations seeking to achieve competitive advantage in the global marketplace.

In a short span of one year in India, KPMG QR has already certified more than 50 companies, and has over 200 clients in various sectors Aptech Centre for Business Transformation is a consultancy organisation specialising in quality, reengineering, information systems, technology-based training and organisational development. Across Asia, the Centre for Business Transformation consults with several corporates in virtually every sector to assist them in the transformation and quality initiatives.

Mafatlal Consultancy Services (MCS), a part of the Arvind Mafatlal Group, has finalised a marketing and support alliance with Continuum SICS, Norway, the reinsurance division of Continuum Company, US. Continuum provides software and consultancy services for the reinsurance and insurance industry.

According to a company communiqué, SICS reinsurance and international insurance application software facilitates complete integration between various functions like under writing facilities for treaty and facultative reinsurance and international insurance, accumulation controls for aggregate liability, claims processing for single and cumulative claims, technical and financial accounting, accounts payable and receivables per broker and ceding company including reconciliation of actual accounts received, automatic handling of non-proportional and proportional retrocession, outward business including production of related documents.

Pune-based ComputerVision Asia is planning a technological partnership with Division Group PLC, UK, as part of ComputerVision's Electronic Product Definition (EPD) strategy. These companies will embed advanced graphics technology from Division's dVISE product line including virtual reality technology into EPD solutions.

The MoU signed by the parties includes the ComputerVision embedding of a 3D scaleable graphics layer using technology from Division's dVISE product line. The graphics layer enables virtual reality capabilities within the environments, ranging from desktops keyboards and mouse to immersive systems.

Division Group provides software for creating and interacting with the 'Universal Virtual Product (UVP which will add several features to the EPD environment that go beyond those of "digital prototyping" or "mock-up" tools.

Bangalore-based Baan Info Systems India, a unit of Baan Company of Netherlands and a provider of enterprisewide business software applications and consulting services, has appointed Ashok Leyland Information Technology (ALIT) as a system integrator partner of its enterprisewide resource planning (ERP) software.

ALIT will market, implement, and support Baan's ERP software. ALIT has an enterprise solution business unit that focuses on solutions and services for the enterprises in manufacturing, trade and industry.

Baan and ALIT see potential in increasing Baan's market share in India, as demands for ERP solutions increase. According to sources, the combination of the relative strength of the two companies - solutions from Baan, and support and development capabilities of ALIT in the manufacturing segments - brings to the marketplace a winning team. Baan offers integrated, open systems-based applications and tools developed for the client/server architecture, while ALIT provides a range of software development services for the international market besides product marketing and customised software development for Indian clients.

Square D Software, Chennai, has entered into an alliance with Netherlands Car B.V (NedCar), the largest manufacturer of passenger cars in the Netherlands, jointly promoted by the Dutch State, Volvo Car Corporation of Sweden and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan.

Under the arrangement, the two companies will be offering offshore design facility in India. The product design and engineering division of Nedcar (NedCar PD&E) will provide support and services in the field of design, engineering, model and prototype building, testing and CAD/CAE support. The expertise of Nedcar PD&E would be used to create and develop concept studies, computer models and hardware scale models for European customers through Indian alliance to the automotive industry in India. With many multinationals establishing their facilities in India, there is scope for growth in this sector. Components, systems and complete vehicle concepts could be devised and tested either individually or in prototype form in simulated test programmes or by using the advanced testing facilities of the NedCar PD&E Test Centre.

Square D Software with Nippon Systemware Company (NSW) of Japan has entered into a business partner relationship by establishing a representative office of NSW in Chennai and choosing Square D as the systems software development centre. The centre will be involved in developing 3-tier client server architecture using the latest tools like Visual Basic 4.2, Power Builder 5.0 and Oracle 7.2. The centre has been established in response to the increase in volume of business from its Japanese customers.

NSW is involved in providing systems integration services, open system technology and multimedia software solutions, system maintenance and support services and application specific integrated circuits (ASIC). Since Square D has the requisite skill in Japanese language and infrastructure, it chose the company as their offshore development centre in India. Square D group has received the clearance from the Registrar of Companies of India to change its name to DSQ Group.