Hyderabad: Deakin University, Australia, in collaboration with the Government of Telangana, has announced a strategic initiative to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation in India.
A Letter of Intent was signed between Deakin University and the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C), Government of Telangana, to align mission-driven AI solutions with the goals of public good and India’s growing digital economy.
Deakin University Strengthens AI Partnership with Telangana
Deakin University, ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide, has been engaged in India for over three decades through academia, government, and industry collaborations.
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The new partnership builds on this legacy by combining Deakin’s expertise in AI research and application through its Applied Artificial Intelligence Initiative with Telangana’s ambitious plans to integrate AI in healthcare, governance, education, and entrepreneurship.
The collaboration will focus on:
- Developing AI-enabled solutions for public sector challenges in health, education, and governance.
- Accelerating the translation of applied AI research into scalable real-world applications.
- Encouraging knowledge exchange and challenge-driven innovation aligned with local priorities.
- Building talent pipelines through AI education, skilling, and workforce capacity-building initiatives.
Leaders Emphasize Responsible and Inclusive AI Growth
Duddila Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, Communications, and Industry, Government of Telangana, said the collaboration was about shaping the future of governance and innovation. He emphasized that Telangana’s AI framework is built on skilling, data governance, and regulation to ensure ethical and inclusive adoption of emerging technologies.
Vice Chancellor of Deakin University, Professor Iain Martin, noted that the initiative reflects the university’s commitment to empowering Indian students through globally relevant education and driving innovation through research partnerships.
Professor Svetha Venkatesh, Alfred Deakin Professor and Co-Director of the Applied Artificial Intelligence Initiative, said the collaboration uniquely positions India and Australia to deliver high-impact AI solutions that are socially relevant and human-centered.
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Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Department of ITE&C, highlighted that AI is not just a technology but a transformative tool for equitable growth. Partnering with Deakin University, he said, will deepen Telangana’s role in building global-standard AI capabilities.
Deakin University and Telangana to Advance India’s AI Leadership
Ravneet Pawha, Vice-President (Global Engagement) and CEO (South Asia) of Deakin University, underlined that this milestone strengthens Australia–India academic and government collaboration, while aligning with the ambitions of India’s National Education Policy 2020 and digital economy vision.
The agreement sets the stage for coordinated initiatives to position Telangana as a global hub for responsible and inclusive AI innovation, contributing to India’s mission of becoming a global leader in AI adoption and development.
