CHENNAI: In a significant stride towards bolstering industry-academia collaboration, the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI (WSAI) at IIT Madras has signed a MoU with Lloyds Technology Centre, a leading technology and data firm, to jointly undertake research-driven industrial and deep-tech projects.

The MoU was signed in the presence of professor Balaraman Ravindran, head-WSAI, and Sirisha Voruganti, CEO-MD, Lloyds Technology.

According to the institute, the partnership aims to catalyse innovation, strengthen scientific and technical capabilities, and explore emerging frontiers in artificial intelligence and data science. “As part of the collaboration, engineers from Lloyds will undergo advanced certified training programmes at WSAI, with focus on AI/ML and data engineering,” a press release said.

This collaboration is not confined to a single project, but “includes a training component and delves into AI challenges, particularly in the banking and finance sectors. We are excited to begin this journey with Lloyds Technology Centre,” said Prof Ravindran.

Pointing out that the convergence of data and AI was redefining the future, Voruganti added: “Our partnership with WSAI will help us develop smarter predictive models across domains like pensions, insurance, and investments. We’re also committed to continuous learning by sponsoring our engineers for advanced AI certifications.”