IBM has partnered with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to launch the National Artificial Intelligence Lab in New Delhi, a major step toward accelerating India’s AI education and skilling ecosystem. The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and emerging AI industry needs through practical, hands-on training and research opportunities.
The newly inaugurated lab will serve as a central hub for AI innovation, offering access to IBM’s advanced cloud and AI technologies. It will enable students, educators, and researchers across India to experiment with real-world AI applications and develop solutions aligned with the country’s digital and industrial goals.
According to IBM, the lab will leverage its AI and cloud platform Watsonx, providing an environment for experimentation in machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics. The company said this initiative reflects its long-standing commitment to promoting technology-led education through partnerships with public institutions.
At the launch event, IBM India’s leadership emphasized the company’s focus on empowering India’s youth with future-ready skills. “AI is redefining every industry, and the next decade will be about how we democratize this technology. The National AI Lab will bring advanced AI capabilities to classrooms and research spaces, ensuring students are equipped for an AI-first economy,” an IBM spokesperson said.
AICTE Chairman T. G. Sitharam stated that the lab represents a significant milestone in India’s effort to integrate AI into higher education. “Our collaboration with IBM will create a generation of students who not only understand AI but can apply it responsibly to solve societal and business challenges. This partnership aligns with India’s vision of becoming a global AI innovation hub,” he noted.
The initiative is also designed to advance India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020) by promoting interdisciplinary learning and integrating cutting-edge technologies into technical education. Through IBM’s SkillsBuild platform, students will have access to online courses, certifications, and AI project tools, complemented by mentorship from IBM experts and industry professionals.
Industry observers see the establishment of the National AI Lab as a timely move, given India’s growing role in global AI research and adoption. With AI-driven automation and analytics gaining traction across sectors, there is a rising need for skilled professionals who can design and deploy ethical, scalable AI systems.
In recent years, IBM has expanded its education-focused partnerships in India, working with institutions like the Ministry of Education, CBSE, and state governments to promote AI literacy. The company has also introduced localized AI curriculum modules to help bridge the skill gap in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
AICTE said that the lab will support research in several focus areas including healthcare analytics, smart manufacturing, agriculture innovation, and sustainability. By providing access to datasets, APIs, and computational tools, the lab will enable students and faculty to collaborate on projects with real-world impact.
The collaboration will also include specialized faculty development programs (FDPs) to train educators in AI pedagogy. These programs aim to ensure that professors and trainers can effectively integrate AI concepts into coursework and mentor students in applied projects.
IBM confirmed that the lab will be connected to its global AI research network, allowing Indian students to collaborate with peers and professionals worldwide. This will provide exposure to global use cases and foster innovation rooted in India’s socioeconomic context.
With the Indian AI market expected to reach $17 billion by 2027, initiatives like this are seen as essential for preparing the workforce for the future. The IBM-AICTE partnership complements government programs such as IndiaAI Mission, which seeks to build AI infrastructure, promote responsible AI development, and nurture homegrown talent.
Experts believe that such collaborations between industry and academia are key to achieving India’s AI leadership ambitions. “Public-private partnerships in education are shaping the next wave of innovation. By integrating AI training at the institutional level, India can create a more inclusive and skilled digital economy,” said a senior AI researcher from IIT Delhi.
The National AI Lab at AICTE headquarters will serve as a model for similar facilities across the country. Plans are already underway to replicate this framework in regional technical institutes, expanding the reach of AI education beyond metropolitan areas.
Through this collaboration, IBM and AICTE aim to create a strong foundation for India’s AI future—one that combines academic excellence with industry relevance, ethical responsibility, and global competitiveness.