MAHE‑Microsoft Strategic Partnership and Launch of Five AI Labs
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence deemed university, announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation across its academic ecosystem. The partnership will create five Microsoft‑branded AI Labs at five constituent units: T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) in Manipal, TAPMI in Bengaluru, Manipal School of Commerce and Economics (MSCE) in Manipal, Manipal Institute of Commerce, Finance and Economics (MICFE) in Bengaluru, and Manipal Law School (MLS) in Bengaluru. These labs will provide students and faculty with access to cutting‑edge AI and cloud technologies, enabling hands‑on learning, experimentation, interdisciplinary research, and industry‑academia collaboration.
The two‑day launch programme was chaired by Dr Sharath K. Rao, Vice‑Chancellor of MAHE, and attended by Mr Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia; Mr Raj Kamal Singhal, CEO of Hitachi Systems India; and Mr Venkat Krishnan, Executive Director at Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd. The event featured a panel discussion titled “Beyond the Hype: How AI Is Reshaping Work, Business, and Society,” which examined AI’s impact on workplaces, businesses, education, and society and underscored the need for responsible adoption.
In remarks, Dr Sharath K. Rao emphasized that the partnership marks a pivotal step toward a technology‑enabled, future‑ready higher‑education ecosystem, noting that AI and cloud technologies are transforming learning, work, and innovation. Dr H S Ballal, Pro‑Chancellor of MAHE, highlighted the university’s long‑standing commitment to staying ahead of change and building an institution where innovation and ethics advance together. Mr Puneet Chandok stressed that India’s young talent can shape the next wave of AI‑led innovation and that collaborations like this bring students closer to the tools and skills shaping the future of work. Mr Raj Kamal Singhal added that the convergence of technology, education, and industry is essential for building a workforce equipped for a rapidly evolving digital economy, and that the labs will help students develop practical skills and continuous‑learning mindsets.
MAHE, which offers over 400 specialisations across health sciences, management, law, humanities, social sciences, and technology & science streams, operates campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. The university received Institution of Eminence status from the Ministry of Education in 2020 and is currently ranked third in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings. Microsoft India, a leading provider of cloud, AI, productivity, and digital transformation solutions, works closely with educational institutions to drive technology‑led growth. Hitachi Systems India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Hitachi Systems Ltd., provides end‑to‑end services in cloud, cybersecurity, data centre, and network solutions across India.
The partnership is positioned to align MAHE’s academic curricula with evolving industry AI requirements, foster interdisciplinary research, promote responsible AI adoption, and equip learners with future‑ready capabilities needed for the global digital economy.