HCL Technologies has teamed up with Microsoft to create an IoT incubation centre.

The centre will use Microsoft’s Azure IoT suite to build vertical industry solutions, focusing on two key growth areas: industrial and manufacturing, and life sciences and healthcare.

HCL will also use the centre to allow customers to get hands-on exposure to IoT and its potential impact in providing business value.

“Industrial IoT is slated to be the next big productivity and revenue generation lever for enterprises worldwide,” HCL Technologies head of IoT Sukamal Banerjee said.

“We are confident that our collaboration in this space will create some truly innovative and actionable industrial IoT solutions which are scalable, cost-effective and focused on user experience.”

This announcement comes shortly after Microsoft made its Azure IoT Hub service - which is one of part of the Azure IoT suite - generally available to customers and partners.