IBM has committed to skill 5 million learners across India in AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing by 2030, as part of its workforce development efforts in the country.
The initiative is part of IBM’s SkillsBuild tech learning ecosystem and will focus on students and adult learners across schools, universities, and vocational ecosystems. The company said the India programme aligns with its focus on employability, responsible AI education and early exposure to computational thinking, as demand for advanced digital skills continues to grow across sectors.
The initiative, announced in Delhi, aims to expand access to education in emerging technologies by working with academic institutions and regulators, including the All India Council for Technical Education. The company also plans to support hands-on learning through curriculum integration, faculty enablement, hackathons, and internship pathways.
It will also continue work at the school level by co-developing AI curricula for senior secondary students and providing teaching resources, including project guides and explainer modules.
“India possesses the talent and ambition to lead the world in AI and quantum,” said Arvind Krishna, chairman, president and chief executive officer of IBM, in a statement. “Our commitment to skill five million people is an investment in that future,” he said, adding that broader access to advanced skills would help students build and innovate.
In a previous interaction, L Venkata Subramaniam, who served as the quantum India leader at IBM, told AIM that IBM is co-developing 11 textbooks on quantum computing with IITs, startups, and other partners, with over 100 colleges already signed up. This is part of a nationwide rollout of an undergraduate minor programme in quantum technologies.
At the centre of the effort is IBM SkillsBuild, a digital learning platform that offers more than 1,000 courses across technology and workplace skills. IBM said the platform has reached over 16 million learners globally and supports its broader goal of training 30 million people worldwide by 2030, with India playing a key role.
