Accenture on Monday announced a partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to train professionals in the fast-growing field of software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
The collaboration will offer specialised training programmes through Accenture’s LearnVantage Software-Defined Vehicle Academy, in association with the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Automotive Research (CAAR) at IIT Madras.
CAAR, a research group within IIT Madras, aims to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world automotive solutions. It supports training and development in areas like electric vehicles, connected cars, and smart technologies.
These programmes are designed to help carmakers and their technology centres—known as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and global capability centres (GCCs)—develop the digital skills needed to build the next generation of vehicles.
With cars becoming more like computers on wheels, the industry needs people who understand both automotive systems and advanced software.
“As vehicles transform into sophisticated software-defined machines, the automotive industry requires digital-native talent skilled in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and safety systems,” Kishore Durg, global lead of Accenture LearnVantage, said. “Our collaboration with CAAR at IIT Madras is a game-changer, focused on transforming talent at scale for OEMs and GCCs in the sector.”
The training will comprise a mix of self-paced learning and sessions led by instructors from IIT Madras. Topics will include Internet of Things (IoT), embedded systems, vehicle safety, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and industry standards like AUTOSAR and ASPICE. These courses are targeted at working professionals in the automotive industry.
Krishnan Balasubramanian, head of CAAR at IIT Madras, said, “The academia-industry partnership, enabled by the Centre of Excellence CAAR, is a unique model that creates a win-win for all parties and enables upskilling of the next generation workforce in new areas such as SDVs. We are delighted to be partnering with Accenture’s LearnVantage.”
Thiruppathy (Thiru) Srinivasan, CEO of CAAR, added, “The automotive industry is rapidly evolving with the adoption of electrification, connectivity, and advanced smart technologies. The high-growth software-defined vehicle space demands both new digital skills and a larger pool of skilled professionals, making upskilling a top priority.”
This partnership builds on an existing relationship between Accenture and IIT Madras. The two organisations already run a joint research centre that focuses on robotics, industrial IoT, and digital twin technologies. TalentSprint, part of Accenture LearnVantage, also works with IIT Madras on an advanced certification in data science and machine learning.
According to Accenture Research, digital services in the auto industry—like those enabled by SDVs—are expected to grow significantly, reaching a global market size of USD 3.5 trillion and contributing 40% of the industry’s revenue by 2040.
Your reaction
Discussion
What's your take on this story?
No comments yet — be the first to share your view.