DIMAPUR (India CSR): Cyient Foundation, the CSR arm of Cyient, in collaboration with SIDBI Swavalamban Foundation, announced the establishment of an AI & Future Skills Center of Excellence (CoE) at the Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC), Dimapur. The initiative aims to accelerate AI-driven skilling and employability in India’s North-East region, empowering local youth with future-ready digital and technological skills.
The Center of Excellence, which was inaugurated by Nirmala Sitharaman, Honorable Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Government of India, in the presence of Y. Patton , Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, and Dr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman, Cyient Limited, marks a significant milestone in India’s mission to democratize access to technology and promote inclusive growth.
As the Program Management and Implementation Partner of AI & Future Skills Center of Excellence (CoE) at the Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC), Cyient Foundation conceptualized, designed, and executed the project. The CoE will offer AI-integrated skilling programs across domains such as Handloom & Handicraft; AI, Software Coding & Robotics, aimed at bridging employability gaps, promoting entrepreneurship, and fostering digital inclusion in the region.
The initiative has been supported through a CSR partnership with SIDBI Swavalamban Foundation, which has extended the funding support towards setting up the infrastructure, AI simulation labs, and digital classrooms at NTTC.
Dr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman, Cyient Limited, said, “India’s future depends on how effectively we empower our youth with digital and technical skills. At Cyient Foundation, we are deeply committed to making technology a force for social good. The AI & Future Skills Center of Excellence in Nagaland exemplifies our vision to bridge the digital divide, create opportunities in emerging industries, and enable every youth regardless of geography to contribute to India’s innovation story. We are proud to collaborate with NITI Aayog in identifying need of integrating AI and emerging technologies into skilling unemployed youth in the developing states of India, we are also glad to get associated with SIDBI Swavalamban Foundation as an implementation partners on this impactful national initiative.”
Sudatta Mandal, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI, said, “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to building a digitally skilled and self-reliant India. By supporting the AI & Future Skills Center of Excellence in Nagaland, SIDBI Swavalamban Foundation is advancing inclusive skill development and entrepreneurship in one of India’s most promising regions. Together with Cyient Foundation and NITI Aayog, we aim to create a scalable model for technology-led livelihood generation.”
The CoE is expected to train over 200–240 youth annually, with 75% of graduates projected to find employment or become self-employed within three months of course completion. The model includes faculty training, AI-based curriculum integration, and market linkage opportunities for sustained impact.
This initiative supports national missions including Digital India, Skill India, and Viksit Bharat 2047, strengthening India’s efforts to equip its workforce with advanced technology capabilities while fostering regional economic resilience.
This initiative reflects Cyient Foundation’s larger vision of “Empowering Tomorrow Together”—equipping India’s youth with future-ready skills and creating pathways to inclusive growth. Building on its strong track record, the Foundation has digitized over 120 government schools, reaching more than 35,000 students with digital literacy programs. Through its Adopt-a-School initiative, over 21,000 children are currently receiving quality education. Beyond education, the Foundation has also championed women’s empowerment and rural development. Each year, more than 2,000 rural women are trained for sustainable employment.
(India CSR)
