Telangana is taking bold steps to solidify its position as a global hub for life sciences and higher education. On Wednesday, the state signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Australia’s RMIT University to enhance research, innovation, and advanced education in life sciences, while the Victoria Institute of Technology (VIT) proposed setting up an “International Education City” in Telangana.
During his official visit to Australia, Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu played a crucial role in both initiatives. Speaking at the RMIT signing ceremony in Melbourne, he highlighted Telangana’s commitment to becoming a Global Innovation Hub.
“This Letter of Intent marks a blueprint for the next phase of Genome Valley’s growth and Telangana’s leadership in the global life sciences economy,” he said, noting that the state has emerged as a life sciences leader in Asia, hosting over 2,000 national and international pharmaceutical and biotech companies valued at USD 80 billion. Telangana contributes nearly 40% of India’s pharmaceutical output and supplies one-third of the world’s vaccines.
The RMIT partnership will drive joint Ph.D. programmes, student and faculty exchanges, and collaborative research, while developing a joint academic curriculum aligned with industry needs to nurture a future-ready global workforce.
On the education front, Minister Sridhar Babu met with VIT representatives, including Founder and President Arjun Surapaneni and Board Member Alan Griffin, to discuss the proposal for an International Education City.
The campus will provide ready-to-operate infrastructure for foreign universities, research centres, and skill development institutions. The Minister assured full government support and invited the delegation for site evaluation and detailed discussions, highlighting Telangana’s progressive policies, digital infrastructure, and skilled youth ecosystem as ideal conditions for global academic partnerships.
The LoI with RMIT was signed by Dr. Shakti Nagappan, CEO of Telangana Life Sciences Foundation, and Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of RMIT University, in the presence of Minister Sridhar Babu. Professor Itsiopoulos expressed excitement about collaborating with a progressive state like Telangana, noting the partnership will advance research, innovation, and higher education in life sciences.
These initiatives collectively position Telangana as a destination of choice for international research collaborations and higher education, strengthening its ambitions in life sciences, global skill development, and innovation-driven growth.
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