Ness Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSTC), a global provider of information technology solutions and services, today announced that Pearson plc, the international education and information company whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education and the Penguin Group, has chosen Ness as its product development partner in a three-year agreement that will expand Pearson’s engineering capacity substantially. Ness will establish and operate an India Development Center in Mumbai for Pearson to enable close collaboration on end-to-end product engineering for Pearson’s next-generation products and systems.

“As leaders in information, education and assessment we continually seek effective ways to bring innovative technology, products and services to our customers,” said Atish Banerjea, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Pearson. “For several years we have worked successfully with partners in India who have helped support the growth of our business and address talent gaps in other parts of the world. We view our India Development Center with Ness as the foundation of a strategic product development capability in India. In Ness we have a partner with a product mindset and we believe that their Managed Labs engagement model will make them a true extension of our business.

“We are delighted to be working with an industry leader like Pearson,” said Shashank Samant, president, Ness North America and head of the global high-tech and software vertical. “Pearson’s dedicated Managed Lab team will bring to bear Ness’ proven offshore product development methodology, acting as an extension of Pearson delivering state-of-the-art solutions and intensifying the product innovation culture within Pearson.” 

Ness’ high-tech and software vertical provides software product expertise – from concept through development to market support – delivered via collaborative “extended product labs.” Ness operates software R&D labs for more than 45 ISVs and other product-oriented clients, utilizing its centers in India (Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai) and its center in Kosice, Slovakia, along with onsite and local presence in North America, Europe, Israel and Asia Pacific.