Deakin University to partner with Telangana on AI Centre of Excellence
HYDERABAD: Telangana will soon host an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Deakin University, Australia, as part of the State Government’s plan to position Telangana as a global leader in emerging technologies. A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed on Monday at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat in the presence of IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu. The LoI was exchanged between Professor Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, and Bhavesh Mishra, Deputy Secretary, IT Department.
AI for inclusive growth and citizen services
Sridhar Babu said the Centre would serve as a roadmap for advancing AI innovation, skill development, entrepreneurship, and bilateral cooperation. “This is not a ceremonial agreement but a roadmap for deeper collaboration. AI is not merely a technology—it is a powerful instrument for inclusive growth and human development,” he said. He added that the Centre would promote collaborative research in healthcare, agriculture, and governance, aiming to improve citizen services and address social challenges. It would also partner with Young Indian Skill University to design market-oriented AI courses, provide international-standard training to youth, and extend mentorship to Telangana-based startups with support from Australian experts. “Our aim is to create one of the world’s strongest AI and digital transformation talent pools from Telangana,” the Minister noted.
Deakin University backs Telangana’s vision
Professor Iain Martin said Deakin University’s choice of Telangana for establishing the Centre was driven by the State’s proactive vision. “Telangana offers the most suitable ecosystem for this initiative. The Government’s efforts to establish the State as a global AI leader are commendable. Our goal is to deliver responsible and effective AI solutions for public good, and Telangana provides the right foundation for this collaboration,” he said. The signing ceremony was attended by Steven, Deputy Consul General of the Australian Consulate in Bengaluru, Andrew Callister, Consul, Vika Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Ranjani Madhavan, Political and Economic Research Officer, and Deakin University representatives Raunit Pahwa, Priyanka Singh, and Gayatri Ved Narayanan.