Telangana has announced plans to establish India's first Green Pharma-focused Applied AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Hyderabad, marking another step in the state's efforts to strengthen its position as a global life sciences and artificial intelligence hub. The initiative is being launched in partnership with Microsoft, the 1M1B Foundation and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub, with operations expected to begin next month.
The Centre of Excellence will focus on equipping students, professionals and entrepreneurs with applied artificial intelligence capabilities tailored for green pharmaceutical manufacturing and sustainable industrial practices. It will combine AI technologies, digital learning programmes, mentorship, innovation challenges and industry engagement to prepare a workforce for the next generation of life sciences manufacturing.
According to the Telangana government, the initiative aligns with the state's broader vision of creating a future-ready talent ecosystem while supporting innovation in sustainable manufacturing. The specialised green pharma track is expected to help participants develop practical AI skills that can be applied across pharmaceutical production, environmental compliance, process optimisation and resource efficiency.
Microsoft will support the Centre through its corporate social responsibility programme by providing AI technologies, digital learning resources, employee mentorship and capacity-building initiatives. The 1M1B Foundation will operate the facility, while MeitY Startup Hub will contribute to building entrepreneurship and startup opportunities around AI-led innovation.
Speaking on the initiative, Telangana IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu said the Centre reflects the state's commitment to building a workforce equipped for emerging technologies and sustainable industries. Microsoft India Development Centre President Rajiv Kumar said artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a key enabler of sustainable industrial transformation, particularly in life sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing, where it can improve productivity, optimise energy use and accelerate research.
The announcement builds on Telangana's recently unveiled Next-Gen Life Sciences Policy 2026-30, which aims to position the state among the world's top three life sciences ecosystems by 2030. The policy targets USD 25 billion in investments and the creation of 500,000 jobs while promoting infrastructure such as Green Pharma City, Genome Valley expansion, bio-manufacturing clusters and multiple Centres of Excellence.
Artificial intelligence is expected to play an increasingly important role across the pharmaceutical value chain, from research and development to manufacturing, supply chain management and quality assurance. AI-driven analytics and automation are also being deployed to reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and support regulatory compliance, making sustainable manufacturing a strategic priority for pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
The Hyderabad-based Centre is also part of a wider national initiative led by Microsoft and the 1M1B Foundation to establish Green Skills and Applied AI centres across multiple Indian cities. Together, these centres aim to train thousands of young people in AI and sustainability-focused skills, with a particular emphasis on improving employability in emerging industries.
For Telangana, the latest announcement reinforces its strategy of combining life sciences, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence to attract investments and create high-value employment. As pharmaceutical companies increasingly adopt AI-powered processes, the Centre of Excellence is expected to serve as a platform for developing talent capable of supporting the industry's transition toward greener and more technology-driven operations.
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