As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the financial sector, IIT Hyderabad (IITH) has launched an AI Innovation Lab in collaboration with S&P Global to create opportunities for students and faculty to work on real-world challenges at the intersection of AI and finance. The Lab will bring together IIT Hyderabad’s academic and AI expertise with S&P Global’s industry experience through hands-on projects, open exploration and mentored research.
The AI Innovation Lab was inaugurated on October 7, 2026, in the presence of Prof. B S Murty, Director, IITH, Mr. Nilam Patel, Managing Director, India Operations, S&P Global, Ms. Sravanthi Lanka, Senior Director, Site Head, Hyderabad Operations, S&P Global, along with representatives from S&P Global and IITH.
The Lab will provide students with opportunities to participate in industry-led challenges, workshops, expert interactions and hands-on learning, while selected students and faculty will also engage in collaborative research. The initiative will provide a platform for students to explore and prototype solutions to financial-sector challenges and develop practical experience working with emerging AI technologies.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said: “Artificial Intelligence is creating new opportunities across sectors, including finance, and preparing students to work on real-world problems is an important part of our approach to technology education and research. The AI Innovation Lab with S&P Global will bring together academic expertise and industry experience, giving our students and faculty opportunities to explore challenging problems, develop practical solutions and undertake meaningful research. We see this collaboration as an important step towards strengthening applied AI research and developing future-ready talent.”
Speaking on the collaboration, S&P Global Chief People Officer Girish Ganesan, said, “At S&P Global, we’re proud to be at the forefront of AI innovation by empowering the next generation with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-enabled world." He added, "The launch of the S&P Global-sponsored AI Innovation Lab at IIT Hyderabad is a reflection of our commitment to supporting talent and offering students meaningful opportunities to learn, create, and lead. Students are the future, and by drawing on S&P Global’s leadership, expertise, and capabilities in AI, we’re excited to help unlock their potential, enable real-world learning, and support them as they take their first steps toward impactful careers."
The collaboration builds on IIT Hyderabad’s role as a Strategic Collaborator for StepForward, an initiative of S&P Global and the S&P Global Foundation backed by a $10 million, three-year commitment to workforce readiness and AI education.
The AI Innovation Lab is expected to strengthen the connection between academic research, industry challenges and emerging AI technologies, while creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience and develop skills relevant to the future of AI-driven finance.
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) enables businesses, governments, and individuals with trusted data, expertise and technology to make decisions with conviction. We are Advancing Essential Intelligence through world-leading benchmarks, data, and insights that customers need in order to plan confidently, act decisively, and thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape. From helping our customers assess new investments across the capital and commodities markets to navigating the energy expansion, acceleration of Artificial Intelligence, and evolution of public and private markets, we enable the world’s leading organizations to unlock opportunities, solve challenges, and plan for tomorrow – today. While, The S&P Global Foundation, the keystone of S&P Global's philanthropic efforts, supports the building of resilient communities. At the Foundation, we focus our program efforts where we can have an impact in the communities where we live and work.
