IIT Delhi, Cisco sign MoU to boost AI, cybersecurity research and workforce development

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Cisco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Cisco Technology Hub. This hub will support research, skill development and collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.

The collaboration will run for three years. Through the Cisco technology hub, students, researchers and industry professionals will have access to practical training, research opportunities and knowledge-sharing activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Jayant Jain, dean, corporate relations, IIT Delhi, said, “This collaboration builds on the Institute’s commitment to enable knowledge exchange and co-creation with industry partners. Through this initiative, we aim to foster innovation, develop future-ready talent and contribute to strengthening India’s digital ecosystem”.

Reflecting on the collaboration, Daisy Chittilapilly, president, Cisco India and South Asia, said, “Strong collaboration between academia, industry and government is critical to driving innovation across India. Our partnership with IIT Delhi brings together research and technology expertise to advance frontier AI research, develop secure solutions for real-world challenges in AI and cybersecurity while building a pipeline of next-generation talent that will shape India's digital future”.

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IIT Delhi-Cisco MoU: Key initiatives

The Cisco technology hub will offer the following opportunities.

• Support research in AI and cybersecurity, from basic research to practical applications
• Provide grants, fellowships and a chair of excellence for PhD and MTech students
• Facilitate joint research projects with Cisco's global research teams
• Support IIT Delhi researchers in publishing white papers on technology, policy and regulatory issues
• Offer continuing education programmes through the Cisco networking academy
• Conduct short-term training programmes for industry professionals, government officials and public sector employees
• Organise workshops, research forums and an annual security and trust summit on AI, cybersecurity and emerging technologies

According to Ashwini K Agrawal, dean of research and development, IIT Delhi, the collaboration is expected to contribute to India's digital future.