AI Centre of Excellence to come up in Telangana in partnership with Deakin University

Hyderabad: The Telangana government and Australia’s Deakin University have entered into a strategic partnership to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence in the State.

Real-world solutions through AI

The collaboration, formalised through a letter of intent (LoI), aims to advance AI solutions for real-world challenges, simultaneously creating new avenues for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment.

AI to revolutionise key sectors

The partnership is set to accelerate the adoption of AI across critical sectors, cementing Telangana’s reputation as a global hub for responsible and inclusive AI.

A key focus will be on advanced skilling, AI education and workforce development to build a talent pool that is ready for the future and capable of sustaining long-term innovation and global competitiveness.

Empower MSMEs

The collaboration will also embed AI into healthcare, education and governance, as well as empower small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to utilise these emerging technologies.

Deakin’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, a leader in multi-sectoral AI research, will bring its expertise to the initiative, ensuring strong connections between industry and academia.

The collaboration will showcase how technology can improve lives and deliver scalable solutions to pressing challenges.

Fostering a culture of innovation

Beyond direct application, this partnership will open up new frontiers for business and investment, fostering entrepreneurship, strengthening the startup ecosystem, and attracting global capital to Telangana's digital economy.

Minister Sridhar Babu, who attended the event, stated that the collaboration is not merely about technology but about shaping the future. He emphasised that by combining Deakin’s global research excellence with Telangana’s innovation ecosystem, they are creating a platform where AI will drive progress in healthcare, education, governance, and entrepreneurship.

State promises to bring global knowledge for local innovation

He reiterated that the State’s AI framework is built on the pillars of skilling, data governance and regulation to ensure ethical, inclusive, and future-ready technological adoption.

“The government’s vision is to make Telangana a place where global knowledge meets local innovation and where India takes the lead in building responsible and inclusive AI for the world,” he said.

IT Secretary Sanjay Kumar at the event reinforced this vision, stating, “We see AI not just as technology but as a transformative tool for equitable growth.”

He added that partnering with Deakin University enhances the state's capability to build global-standard AI capabilities, using local strengths to fuel India’s global competitiveness.

Vice-Chancellor Martin highlighted that Deakin is already preparing students for high-demand fields like AI, cybersecurity, and health through industry-informed programs.