IIT-H, S&P Global Launch AI Lab

The collaboration will include industry-led projects, workshops, expert interactions and joint research. It builds on IIT-H’s association with S&P Global’s StepForward initiative for workforce readiness and AI education.

The lab was inaugurated in the presence of IIT-H director Prof. B.S. Murty, S&P Global managing director for India Operations Nilam Patel and Hyderabad Operations senior director and site head Sravanthi Lanka, along with representatives of both organisations.

Students will be able to work on financial-sector challenges, test ideas and develop prototypes under the guidance of academic and industry experts. Selected students and faculty members will also participate in collaborative research projects.

Prof. Murty said artificial intelligence was creating new opportunities across sectors, including finance, and that preparing students to work on real-world problems was an important part of the institute’s approach to technology education and research.

He said the lab would bring together academic expertise and industry experience and help strengthen applied AI research while developing future-ready talent.

The collaboration follows IIT-H’s role as a strategic collaborator for StepForward, an initiative of S&P Global and the S&P Global Foundation. The programme is backed by a $10-million commitment over three years towards workforce readiness and AI education.

IIT-H said the lab would help connect academic research with industry challenges and give students practical experience in AI applications relevant to finance.

S&P Global chief people officer Girish Ganesan said the initiative was aimed at helping students acquire skills needed in an AI-enabled workplace and gain real-world learning experience.