AICTE, IBM join hands to promote AI skills and innovation through National Lab

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has partnered with IBM to establish a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab at its headquarters in New Delhi. The collaboration, announced at IBM’s annual CSR event held ahead of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, aims to serve as a national centre for AI research, training, and innovation.

The proposed AI Lab will feature computing infrastructure, AI software platforms, and a digital repository accessible to all AICTE-affiliated institutions. It will offer training programmes for students, faculty, and researchers, with a focus on future skills in AI, cloud technologies, and sustainability.

The initiative is supported by IBM SkillsBuild, the company’s global education platform that provides free access to more than 1,000 courses in technical domains. IBM has set a goal to skill 30 million people worldwide by 2030, including 2 million in AI by 2026.

AI Lab to offer practical learning and mentorship

According to the official press release, over 16 million learners are already registered globally, and the new lab is expected to further expand the reach and impact of IBM SkillsBuild across India’s technical education ecosystem.

In addition to online modules, the National AI Lab will conduct in-person workshops, mentorship programmes with IBM experts, project-based learning sessions, and innovation challenges focused on practical applications of AI.

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IBM aims to build future-ready skills through AI Lab

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the collaboration between AICTE and IBM aligns with the Government of India’s policy of promoting industry-academia partnerships to strengthen technical education and foster innovation.

“By bringing together the strengths of industry expertise and academic excellence, this collaboration, I am sure, will not only enhance the quality of technical education but also empower our youth with the industry-relevant skills to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for future skills,” he said.

Justina Nixon-Saintil- Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Impact Officer, IBM, said, “By combining IBM SkillsBuild with the AI Lab’s advanced resources, we will support India’s students and educators in building the capabilities needed to solve some of society’s biggest challenges. This is about creating impact at scale.”