Announced by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at the AI Tour in New Delhi, the collaboration focuses on advancing AI adoption, fostering innovation, and driving inclusive growth across India.
Key initiatives under the partnership include establishing an AI Center of Excellence called ‘AI Catalysts,’ which will support 100,000 AI innovators through hackathons, community-building initiatives, and an AI marketplace. Additionally, ‘AI Productivity Labs’ will be set up across 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and NIELIT centers in 10 states to train 20,000 educators in foundational AI courses.
The collaboration also aims to develop AI solutions for citizen-scale sectors like healthcare, education, accessibility, and agriculture while advancing Indic language models to address India’s diverse linguistic landscape. Microsoft will further support AI startups through its Founders Hub program, offering access to technology, mentorship, and business resources.
With AI adoption in India on the rise—72% of organisations using AI in 2024 compared to 63% in 2023—the demand for AI talent is surging. While India currently has around 400,000 AI engineers, projections indicate a need for one million by 2026.
Also Read: Microsoft to train 10 million Indians in AI skills by 2030, says Satya Nadella
