TechM inks MoU with University of Auckland to drive innovation in AI, Quantum Computing

Indian IT services and consulting Tech Mahindra on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Auckland in New Zealand.  

This MoU will accelerate research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and quantum computing across various industries, including healthcare, banking, financial services, and insurance. This also includes cooperation with the government sector. 
Tech Mahindra and the University of Auckland's collaboration will enhance the cooperation between industry and academia, to improve the students’ employability.

The collaboration will also focus on AI and ML technologies, such as spiking neural networks and 1-bit LLMs (Large Language Model).  In addition, Tech Mahindra will be advancing quantum security through post-quantum cryptography. Additionally, the organizations will leverage AI and quantum ML in healthcare, with applications such as drug discovery and digital biomarkers for personalized therapy, enabling innovations in the healthcare sector globally.

Harshvendra Soin, President - Asia Pacific and Japan Business, Tech Mahindra, said, “AI and quantum computing represent a paradigm shift in how we approach complex problems, and their potential to revolutionize industries is immense. Our technical prowess, coupled with the University of Auckland’s expertise in AI and post-quantum security, will drive innovation that enables our customers and benefit society.”

Joint research initiatives between the University and Tech Mahindra will further integrate academic data resources and expert research insights to develop industry use cases for global markets. The collaboration will introduce Generative AI and its benefits to Indigenous communities and offer internships at Tech Mahindra, providing potential candidates with the opportunity to learn AI, ML, and other emerging technologies.

Partha Roop, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Dean of International at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering, said, “The University is keen to establish this partnership with a leading global tech company originally from India. India has led IT innovation globally for the past three decades, and I envisage that it will also lead the AI revolution.” 

“UoA is both agile and world-leading, especially in Wireless Power Transfer (developed in the Faculty of Engineering by Professor John Boys and his team), robotics, and statistical machine learning, which were pioneered through the R programming language (created in the Faculty of Science at UoA). This agreement provides a stepping stone for our students to explore real-world challenges and gain hands-on training from accomplished Tech Mahindra professionals,” 

This collaboration will advance Tech Mahindra’s local capabilities in New Zealand, incorporating next-gen technologies and showcasing thought leadership through research papers and enhanced participation in academic conferences.

Tech Mahindra, led by CEO Mohit Joshi, is investing heavily in AI/ML and quantum technologies to stay competitive globally. The company has launched a three-year strategic plan to boost business momentum, profit margins, and topline growth by fiscal year 2027.

In August, Tech Mahindra opened a Synergy Lounge with IBM in Singapore to aid digital transformation for Asia-Pacific enterprises. This facility will help businesses tackle challenges and enhance customer experience using advanced technologies like AI, Hybrid Cloud, and quantum computing. The Lounge will be available to global enterprises for exploring collaborative solutions and testing prototypes across various sectors, including automotive, healthcare, and finance.

Recently, Tech Mahindra partnered with Microsoft to improve workplace experiences through Generative AI, establishing a dedicated Copilot practice. The company also collaborated with Google Cloud to promote generative AI adoption and drive digital transformation within Mahindra & Mahindra.