The Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and McGill University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research in India.

The agreement was signed in Mumbai on 28 February 2026 on the margins of an event attended by Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jayant Chaudhary, India’s Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education.

The MoU was signed by Shyam S Bhartia, Founder and Chairman of the Jubilant Bhartia Group; Hari S Bhartia, Founder and Co-Chairman of the Jubilant Bhartia Group; and Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University.

The Centre will launch a Master’s programme designed to align academic learning with industry applications. Students will work on projects linked to technological challenges and emerging needs in India’s AI sector. The programme will focus on academic standards, applied learning through live projects and case studies, global research practices, and mentorship from faculty and industry professionals.

The partnership will draw on McGill University’s AI research ecosystem and industry collaboration supported by the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation. In addition to teaching, the Centre will function as a research hub aimed at developing AI solutions relevant to India’s digital economy.

The initiative comes as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates across India’s digital economy, with industry reporting a shortage of engineers with advanced AI expertise. The Centre aims to address this gap by preparing graduates for roles in applied AI, supporting research and strengthening industry–academia collaboration.

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