According to a TCS press note, the broad areas identified for co-operation include asset management, control systems and knowledge-based decision systems for power plants and power plant equipment.

Bhel and TCS will also jointly bid for national and global tenders in these and related areas.

Some of the initial areas identified for co-operation and joint development include: software tools and solutions for proactive maintenance for power plants and development of software products to suit customer requirement for third-party sales.

The core team members for joint efforts have already been identified from Bhel and TCS. A framework will be set up for packaging these for the global power sector market.

Said Bhel chairman and managing director KG Ramachandran, "We have put service exports high on our new business priorities. Service export is just beginning to happen and has big potential. We would like to provide IT-enabled remote services in places with serious shortage of skills. For this, we need software development competency and improved marketing skills for our remote, overseas services. It is with this objective we have signed this MoU with TCS."

As the next step, two prototypes from the identified areas of co-operation will be created during the first year (2003-2004) of the MoU.

The proof-of-concept of these prototypes will be demonstrated at a power generation station where Bhel is currently engaged.