CREATING JOBS. CHANGING LIVES.
Wadhwani Foundation Global Impact
Dr.
Romesh Wadhwani
Shares Views on Global AI Policy and India’s Opportunity to Lead
Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, Founder & Chairman of Wadhwani Foundation, delivered the keynote at a global AI policy convening co-hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) through the CSIS Wadhwani AI Center and the Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics, held ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
He made the case for India's advantage in large-scale deployment, light-touch regulation, sovereign AI infrastructure, and workforce reskilling — positioning India to lead responsible AI adoption across emerging economies.
Advancing India’s AI Agenda Across National and Global Platforms
Wadhwani Foundation advanced India’s AI momentum across key platforms. At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, it showcased scalable AI applications across skilling, entrepreneurship, governance, and innovation, while convening global leaders through its CSIS collaboration. In Jaipur, the Foundation also supported the launch of the AI Roadmap and Solutions Compendium, guiding state-level adoption.
Closing Employability Gaps in Brazil Through Market-Aligned Skilling Partnerships
Closing the employability gap in Brazil, the Foundation advanced market-aligned skilling through research-led insights and partnerships.
A study commissioned by Wadhwani Foundation and featured in TED RH highlighted soft skills gaps among youth, while collaborations like Lar Sírio Pró-Infância expanded access to training, strengthened employer connections, and enabled smoother workforce integration.
Strengthening Employability and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in the Philippines
The Foundation strengthened employability and entrepreneurship ecosystems in the Philippines through faculty onboarding, leadership alignment, and new university partnerships. JobReady program readiness was enabled at Centro Escolar University and Trimex Colleges, alongside entrepreneurship collaborations with Guimaras State University and the University of Antique, expanding access to tools and training for job readiness and local enterprise growth.
Wadhwani Foundation Global Impact
Advancing Faculty-Led Innovation and Startup Learning in the Philippines
The Foundation also deepened its engagement in the Philippines with CAPSU and LSPU to advance entrepreneurship education. Through IGNITE and the Certified Entrepreneurship Educator Program (CEEP), faculty explored startup thinking, venture creation, and AI-enabled tools like GenieAI to strengthen innovation-led learning and student readiness.
Scaling JobReady Program Across Indonesia’s Vocational Education Ecosystem
Expanding our impact in Indonesia, Wadhwani Foundation advanced the national rollout of the JobReady Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The initiative enabled vocational institutions to integrate soft skills, digital learning and AI-powered tools like GenieAI, strengthening career readiness and aligning training with evolving workforce demands.
Enabling 300+ Job Introducers Across Indonesia
In partnership with the Ministry of Manpower, Wadhwani Foundation conducted Training of Trainers programs reaching 300+ job introducers across Indonesia. The sessions equipped participants with structured approaches to build job readiness, soft skills and entrepreneurial capabilities, enabling stronger support for job seekers and new venture creation.
Strengthening Employability Ecosystems Across Egypt
The Foundation expanded its employability footprint across Egypt through on-ground programs and partnerships. At New Cairo Technological University (NCTU), JobReady sessions introduced students to in-demand skills and AI tools for career readiness.
Collaborations with British University in Egypt (BUE), Modern Sciences and Arts University, New Cairo Technological University, Jaddarat Foundation and Aura Communication are enabling direct employment pathways and stronger career support.
Wadhwani Foundation in the Spotlight
India’s Opportunity to Lead Tech Diffusion and Job Creation at Scale
In an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI), featured across leading publications, Dr. Ajay Kela, CEO and Board Member, Wadhwani Foundation, highlighted India’s opportunity to lead global tech diffusion. He emphasized the shift from innovation to large-scale adoption, with SMEs and deep-tech startups driving job creation, supported by demand-led skilling.
Enterprise Capability Takes Center Stage in India’s Job Creation Agenda
In a Hindustan Times op-ed, the Foundation’s leadership highlighted a shift from expanding enterprise access to strengthening enterprise capability, especially for MSMEs. The perspective reinforces the focus on building structured support systems that enable businesses to scale, hire and drive job creation at scale across sectors.
Viksit Bharat depends on structured systems helping MSMEs scale predictably—exactly what Wadhwani Foundation enables through entrepreneurship, skilling, and digital transformation.
Driving Job Creation at Scale: Insights from Indiaspora Forum 2026
At the Indiaspora Forum 2026, the Foundation’s leadership brought a systems-level lens to job creation, emphasizing coordinated action across platforms, enterprises, and the diaspora. Extending this to industry, Foundation leaders also engaged at the AMA South Asia Roundtable in Bengaluru, highlighting platform-led skilling and hyper-local placement models to better align learning with real employer demand.
Wadhwani Foundation in the Spotlight
WITC at IIT Bombay Marks Shift from Research to Real-World Translation
The transition of Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering (WRCB) to the Wadhwani Innovation and Translation Centre (WITC) at IIT Bombay marked a shift toward stronger lab-to-market translation. The inauguration brought together academic and industry leaders, highlighting WIN’s role in advancing translational research and setting the stage for Arogya Next discussions on innovation and access to next-generation therapeutics.
Driving Jobs and Entrepreneurship Across 15 Priority Cities in India
Wadhwani Foundation strengthened on-ground execution across 15 priority cities, translating national platforms into local jobs, skills, and entrepreneurship. This shift toward deeper state and city-level alignment was featured in Fortune India and Dainik Bhaskar, highlighting a focused move to scale impact.
Enabling Strategic Growth for SMBs Through CAAA Partnership in Ahmedabad
In Ahmedabad, a collaboration with the Chartered Accountants Association Ahmedabad (CAAA) brought structured entrepreneurship frameworks into the financial advisory ecosystem. The CAAA Member Empanelment event hosted at i-Hub introduced chartered accountants to expansion planning, governance, and growth strategies, strengthening their role in supporting SMBs.
Wadhwani Skilling
Building Job-Ready Talent Pipelines in Ahmedabad
Expanding Employability Outcomes for 9,000+ Trainees Through DIKSHa Partnership
In Ahmedabad, a roundtable with GESIA IT Association brought together 25 HR leaders to address gaps between academic outcomes and industry needs. Discussions highlighted disconnects in job readiness and the need for stronger collaboration across industry, academia, and skilling bodies to build resilient local talent pipelines aligned with Gujarat’s growth.
A partnership with Dalmia Bharat Foundation expanded employability outcomes under the DIKSHa program. Faculty-mentored training was rolled out across 32 centers, reaching over 9,000 trainees annually. By integrating Wadhwani Foundation’s LMS with on-ground delivery, learners are gaining job readiness, interview skills, sector-aligned upskilling, and post-placement support, converting skills into sustained livelihoods.
Expanding Employability Access to 3,000+ Learners Across 30 Centers Through IACT Partnership
A partnership with IACT Education Pvt. Ltd. expanded employability pathways across vocational ecosystems. Implementation spanned 30 centers, reaching 3,000+ trainees annually, with a roadmap to scale across 1,000 centers. The collaboration enabled structured, job-aligned training for roles in IT and ITES, strengthening career readiness at scale.
Connecting Youth to Local Jobs Through EMPLEA+ in Mexico
In the State of Mexico, a new EMPLEA+ cohort connected young talent with hyperlocal job opportunities. Participants built workplace skills, used AI tools for job search and preparation, and engaged with employers hiring in the region, reinforcing the link between skilling and real-time labor market demand.
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship
Bringing 100+ Founders Together for Real Growth Conversations at Ahmedabad SME Conference
At i-Hub Gujarat, 100+ SMB founders, leaders, and ecosystem enablers came together for the Ahmedabad SME Conference 2026. Discussions focused on scaling, operations, and real growth challenges, reflecting the need for stronger leadership and execution as businesses move to the next phase.
Bringing Founders Together for Peer Learning and Collaboration in Pune
In Pune, an exclusive founders dinner with Y&A 10X Club brought together growth-stage founders for candid, peer-led discussions. Conversations focused on real challenges in scaling, with founders sharing practical insights and supporting each other through lived experience, strengthening trust-based networks within the ecosystem.
Advancing MSME Productivity for 60+ Businesses Through AI-Led Entrepreneurship in Kanpur
Strengthening Startup Incubation Through University Partnerships in the Philippines
In Kanpur, an AI for Productivity & Business Growth workshop with the All India Management Association (AIMA) and the Indian Industries Association (IIA) - Kanpur Chapter brought together 60+ business owners and leaders. Discussions focused on practical AI use cases for cost reduction and efficiency, alongside introducing Wadhwani Liftoff to support MSME growth through structured, technology-led enablement.
In the Philippines, a co-incubation agreement with CPUGAD TBI at Central Philippine University strengthened startup pipelines through mentoring, curriculum support and capacity building. The collaboration enabled founders to access structured training, investor insights and AI-led pitching tools, supporting early-stage ventures in building scalable, market-ready businesses.
Wadhwani Center for Government Digital Transformation
Enabling 1.5 Million+ Course Completions on iGOT Karmayogi Bharat Platform
Over 1.5 million course completions has been enabled on the iGOT Karmayogi Bharat platform, supporting continuous learning for public officials across India. Covering AI, Data Analytics, Drones, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity, these programs are strengthening real-world decision-making and service delivery capabilities across government systems.
Advancing AI Adoption in Healthcare and Governance Across National Platforms
At the Health of India Summit 2026 and an AI for Inclusive Growth panel, Prakash Kumar, then CEO of Wadhwani Center for Government Digital Transformation (WGDT), engaged with policymakers and institutions on AI-led healthcare and governance. Discussions focused on preventive care, public-sector transformation, and aligning AI adoption with inclusive, real-world needs.
AI in Governance and Agriculture Takes Center Stage at Rajasthan Conference
At the Rajasthan AI Impact Conference 2026, Prakash Kumar, then CEO of Wadhwani Center for Government Digital Transformation(WGDT), contributed to discussions on responsible AI use in governance. Engagements also explored AI applications in agriculture, focusing on farmer decision-making, market linkages, and building more resilient and inclusive systems.
Building AI Readiness Among Senior Government Officials in Rajasthan
At HCM Rajasthan Institute of Public Administration, a capacity-building program enabled senior government officials to apply Generative AI in governance. Sessions focused on policy research, drafting, data analysis, and knowledge management using tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and NotebookLM, with emphasis on ethical use and real departmental problem-solving.
Wadhwani Innovation & Research
Superhub Vision for Bioengineering and Healthcare Takes Shape at IIT Bombay
At IIT Bombay, leadership visits brought together faculty, researchers, and students to shape the Wadhwani Innovation Superhub. Discussions focused on translating research into real-world applications across bioengineering and healthcare, alongside prototype showcases and strategic alignment with academic and innovation teams.
Calling for a National Platform to Democratize Innovation Across Sectors
At the Health of India Summit 2026, Dr. Shirshendu Mukherjee of Wadhwani Innovation Network proposed a national platform to democratize innovation across health and agriculture. The vision emphasized collaboration among innovators, funders, and government, backed by strong validation, to move ideas beyond labs into credible, real-world applications at scale.
Advancing Synthetic Biology Innovation at WITC, IIT Bombay
At Wadhwani Innovation & Translation Centre (WITC) (formerly WRCB), IIT Bombay, a one-day conference on Synthetic Biology brought together leaders from academia, industry, and policy to explore the future of biology-driven innovation. Structured across four thematic sessions, the conference covered sustainable bioeconomy solutions, advances in metabolic and protein engineering, healthcare applications, and emerging opportunities in biopharma.
The discussions highlighted the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in translating cutting-edge research into scalable, real-world impact across industries.
Enabling the Leap from Validation to Real-World Deployment in MedTech
At IIT Delhi, a MedTech workshop by the Wadhwani Innovation Network (WIN) HUB Personalized Medicine and HealthTech - IITD (a joint initiative by IIT Delhi and Wadhwani Foundation), in collaboration with the American Chemical Society, brought together researchers, startups, and industry leaders to address the TRL 4–7 phase, focusing on commercialization, regulatory pathways, and translating research into deployable healthcare solutions.
CREATING JOBS. CHANGING LIVES.