The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with McGill University, Canada, to establish a centre of excellence in AI education and research in India, aimed at bridging the widening gap between academic training and industry-ready artificial intelligence talent.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of an event attended by Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, Anita Anand, and Jayant Chaudhary, MoS (minister of state) for skill development and entrepreneurship and MoS for education.

The agreement was formally signed by Shyam S Bhartia (founder and chair), and Hari S Bhartia (founder and vice chair) of Jubilant Bhartia; and Professor Deep Saini, president and vice-chancellor of McGill University.

Bridging academia and industry

The proposed centre of excellence is designed to combine academic rigour with applied, industry-relevant AI training. It will initially offer a Master’s programme in artificial intelligence, focused on producing job-ready AI engineers and future research leaders.

Students enrolled in the programme will work on real-world projects aligned with emerging technological needs in India’s fast-growing AI ecosystem, according to a statement. The curriculum will integrate strong theoretical foundations with applied learning and industry engagement.

Commenting on the partnership, Shyam S Bhartia and Hari S Bhartia said, “India is at the forefront of digital innovation, and the need for industry-ready AI talent has never been greater. Through our partnership with McGill University, we are creating a powerful ecosystem where academic rigour meets real-world execution, supporting India’s vision of becoming a global AI powerhouse. The Centre will produce professionals who can move seamlessly from classroom concepts to enterprise-scale AI deployment.”

Professor Deep Saini described the collaboration as a major step in expanding McGill’s global academic footprint.

“The Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research in India represents an important step in expanding the University’s global presence, strengthening international partnerships, and extending its academic reach. I want to thank both the Government of Canada and the Government of India for acknowledging the Centre, as well as our partner, the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, for its close collaboration. We look forward to designing the curriculum, applying academic standards, overseeing quality assurance, and enhancing research partnerships.”

The centre will leverage McGill University’s research-led AI ecosystem to create an innovative academic model that integrates global best practices with India-specific applications, the statement added.

Addressing India’s AI talent gap

India’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, with AI adoption accelerating across sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing and e-commerce. However, industry reports continue to highlight a shortage of engineers with deep expertise in AI systems and deployment.

The centre aims to address this talent gap by developing globally competitive AI professionals while strengthening industry-academia collaboration models.