Maharashtra to launch innovation and skills hub in partnership with Australia

Maharashtra is set to launch a new innovation and skills hub in collaboration with Australia to strengthen research, education, and industry partnerships, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil announced on Sept 30.

The Maharashtra-Australia Innovation and Skills Hub (MAISH) will focus on advancing research, innovation, and skill development in critical areas such as energy, environment, and healthcare.

“The Maharashtra-Australia Innovation and Skills Hub is not just an academic initiative but a visionary step aimed at transforming the state into a sustainable knowledge economy,” Patil said.

Patil chaired a meeting at Mantralaya on the proposed hub, which included senior officials, academicians, and directors from higher and technical education departments.

The hub will operate under the Australia-India Centre of Excellence and builds on discussions between Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his Australian counterpart, Jason Clare, he said.

“The project reflects a joint commitment towards youth empowerment, fostering innovation and strengthening bilateral ties,” Patil added.

He highlighted that while Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur remain key educational and industrial centers, global challenges like climate change, rising energy demands, and sustainable development require advanced research and commercialization.

The initiative will include leading institutions from both countries, including IIT Bombay, the University of Mumbai, Savitribai Phule Pune University, DY Patil University, and Australia’s Newcastle, Monash, RMIT, and Sydney universities.

The hub aims to provide international-level courses, specialized skill training, and global opportunities for students.

It will focus on training undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students; developing patent-worthy technologies in energy and healthcare; and facilitating exchanges between international scientists.

Patil described the collaboration as a new chapter for Maharashtra and Australia, emphasizing its potential to create a sustainable knowledge economy while offering students advanced skills and global exposure.