The programme is designed to engage, support and invest in 40 regions worldwide to narrow the digital and data divide, improve infrastructure and cybersecurity, and equip the future workforce with essential tech skills.
Strengthening its commitment to India’s digital growth, Cisco also unveiled new initiatives for Mumbai and neighbouring areas, centred on innovation, skilling, and cyber resilience.
Cisco will collaborate with community leaders and key stakeholders from academia, non-profit organisations, and other companies. Together, they will design and deliver programs to drive positive impact, aligning with the Government of India’s and the State of Maharashtra’s priorities.
Cisco will partner with CII to launch a Cisco Centre of Excellence for AI, Networking, and Entrepreneurship at the Multi Skill Training Institute (MSTI) and Model Career Centre (MCC) in Kandivali (East), Mumbai.
This modern physical centre will include a hybrid classroom, an innovation zone, a dedicated design thinking space and a fully equipped makerspace to provide advanced skills in AI and networking, both in person and through a hybrid model, addressing the critical industry demand for expertise in these transformative technologies.
Over three years, the initiative aims to skill and train 100,000 students. Additionally, the Centre will also serve as a hub for community and employee engagement and provide specialised entrepreneurship programs to support individuals seeking to start or expand their businesses, fostering innovation and growth in AI and networking domains.
Cisco is also expanding its long-term collaboration with NIIT Foundation, focused on AI awareness and cybersecurity training.
Building on the success of the Cyber Suraksha program launched in 2022, which has already positively impacted over 1 million individuals across the country, this new multi-year partnership aims to skill 2.7 million people across India by 2028, including 100,000 individuals across Maharashtra.
In partnership with Dr DY Patil College of Engineering & Innovation, Cisco will establish a new Experience, Design, Go-to-Market, EDGE Centre in Pune.
This collaborative hub will empower students, faculty, start-ups, and MSMEs with access to Cisco’s communication and collaboration technologies. The Centre will also offer training and capacity-building programs for the academic community and entrepreneurs, along with advisory services to help businesses leverage technology, including networking, AI, and cybersecurity.
The space will feature spaces for collaboration and design thinking, a cybersecurity lab, and an industry engagement zone to support knowledge sharing, accelerate go-to-market, and create employment opportunities.
Cisco will also collaborate with the Government of Maharashtra to empower the state’s youth with digital skills by partnering with the Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University.
Through this partnership, Cisco Networking Academy’s digital skills programs will be offered at 125+ identified skills centres in various academic institutions across the state. Cisco will provide access to Networking Academy’s world-class learning platform, offering 30+ industry-relevant courses in Cybersecurity, AI, Networking, and Data Analytics. Participating institutions will benefit from a comprehensive curriculum, industry-aligned content, and assessments, ensuring students gain job-ready skills that meet evolving industry demands.
Cisco will also introduce experiential programs such as Skill-a-thon, Virtual Internship Program (VIP), and regional competitions to enhance practical learning.
In partnership with Villgro Innovation Foundation, Cisco will launch a startup tech accelerator focused on startups offering tech-enabled solutions to address urban sustainability challenges in water and waste management across Maharashtra.
Cisco will also connect participating startups with its technical experts for support in areas such as security and compliance, system integration and interoperability, cloud optimisation, and automation, empowering the next generation of changemakers to deliver social impact.
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