Indian companies are joining hands with IITs and universities to build research hubs focused on AI, deep tech, healthcare, telecom and emerging techno…
1/7Indian companies are increasingly partnering with top academic institutions to build research centres, innovation labs and technology hubs. From artificial intelligence and deep tech to healthcare and telecom, these collaborations aim to connect industry problems with academic research. Here are six major company–university research partnerships announced in 2026. (Image: Canva)
2/71. Axis Bank-BITS Pilani: ₹100 crore innovation park in Hyderabad | Axis Bank has partnered with BITS Pilani to support the establishment of the Axis Bank–BITS Industry Research, Technology & Innovation Park at the Hyderabad campus through a ₹100 crore CSR grant. Spread across around 120,000 sq. ft., the facility will focus on life sciences, biopharma, healthcare and medical devices, with laboratories, incubation spaces and shared research infrastructure. The park aims to accelerate innovation, technology transfer, IP creation and industry–academia collaboration while supporting India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ goals.
3/72. Bajaj Finserv-IIT Bombay: AI and deep-tech research center | Bajaj Finserv has launched Finserv Intelligence, a venture focused on investing in India-built next-generation technologies and startups in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum technology, fintech and consumer technology. The company has partnered with IIT Bombay to establish a joint research centre, while Bajaj Finserv companies plan to invest ₹1,500–2,000 crore over five years in AI innovation startups. The initiative will bring together academic research, startup investments and industry expertise to build a long-term innovation ecosystem. (Image: IIT Bombay/X)
4/73. Persistent Systems-IIT Kharagpur: AI Innovation Lab | Persistent Systems has partnered with IIT Kharagpur to establish an AI Innovation Lab in the institute’s Computer Science and Engineering department. The facility will support AI research, applied development and industry–academia collaboration, with focus areas including healthcare analytics, educational technology and financial intelligence. The lab will provide advanced research infrastructure and help build AI talent while supporting the development of responsible and scalable AI solutions. (Image: IIT Kharagpur/LinkedIn)
5/74. Nothing-IIT Roorkee & IISc: Deep-tech innovation push | Consumer technology company Nothing has partnered with IIT Roorkee and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to strengthen India’s deep-tech innovation ecosystem. The collaborations will focus on mentorship, startup support, industry–academia partnerships and technology-driven entrepreneurship, helping connect researchers, startups and industry to support new technology development. (Image: IIT Roorkee/X)
6/75. BSNL-IIT Kanpur: Next-generation telecom research. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has partnered with IIT Kanpur to create a framework for joint research, development, testing and deployment of next-generation telecom technologies. The collaboration will focus on areas including 4G/5G networks, AI-driven telecom solutions, cybersecurity, cloud and edge computing, GPU/HPC platforms and digital infrastructure. The partnership aims to support indigenous technology development and strengthen India’s digital ecosystem under initiatives such as Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. (Image: IIT Kanpur/X)
7/76. HCLTech-IIT Kanpur: Deep-tech innovation collaboration | HCLTech has partnered with IIT Kanpur to convert advanced research into real-world pilots and scalable solutions for Global Capability Centers (GCCs). The collaboration will focus on AI, robotics and next-generation technologies, combining IIT Kanpur’s research ecosystem with HCLTech’s industry expertise to accelerate deep-tech innovation, enterprise solutions and faster technology deployment. (Image: IIT Kanpur/Instagram)
