• The new program (VIPP) invites industrial partners worldwide to join Varaha’s carbon removal platform

Varaha, Asia’s largest developer of high-integrity carbon removal projects, today announced its Series B financing round of ~$45M, and close of the initial tranche of $20M, led by WestBridge Capital.

The new capital will accelerate Varaha’s geographic expansion, strengthen its scientific and MRV capabilities, and scale a new industrial partnership model that extends its capabilities to partners worldwide.

Founded in India, Varaha develops carbon removal projects across four pathways: Biochar, Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR); Regenerative Agriculture, and Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW).

The company has built strong commercial traction, executing long-term carbon offtake agreements with U.S. technology leaders Google and Microsoft, as well as a major U.S.-based aviation company. Varaha has also delivered one of the highest volumes of durable carbon removal credits of any project developer globally as on date.

This investment marks WestBridge Capital’s first climate tech investment.

Varaha Founders

• Research collaboration develops strong, durable paper mailers from agricultural waste to reduce reliance on virgin wood pulp and address stubble-burning challenges

Amazon India today announced a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to develop innovative packaging materials from agricultural waste. This project aims to create non-wood paper technology that diverts agricultural waste from burning while reducing pressure on virgin wood pulp. These lightweight yet strong packaging materials offer recyclable and home-compostable alternatives to traditional wood pulp paper or plastic bags.

The research will focus on converting crop residues such as wheat straw and bagasse into high-quality pulp for paper mailers with performance comparable to conventional paper packaging. This helps reduce stubble burning in India by turning agricultural waste into valuable packaging material. It also reduces dependency on imported virgin wood pulp and could create additional income for farmers by providing a market for agricultural residues.

The collaboration with IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology will begin with lab-scale development and testing over a 15-month period. Subject to successful performance tests, Amazon will provide support to progress to industrial trials, process validation, and commercial production by mid to late next year.

Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations at Amazon India said “At Amazon, we are building and managing India’s fastest, safest, and most reliable operations network, and we’re committed to making it more sustainable. As part of this effort, we’re partnering with IIT Roorkee to develop innovative packaging from crop residue. India generates nearly 500 million tons of this waste annually, and by repurposing it into packaging, we can support a more circular economy while reducing reliance on conventional materials."

Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director IIT Roorkee said, "Sustainability is no longer a choice, it is an urgent national priority. This collaboration between IIT Roorkee and Amazon is a step towards realizing India’s vision of a circular economy, aligned with government missions such as Swachh Bharat, Startup India, and the National Resource Efficiency Policy. By transforming agricultural residues into biodegradable packaging materials, we are addressing the twin challenges of stubble burning and a reliance on virgin materials in India, while creating scalable solutions that can benefit industries, farmers, and society at large. This initiative showcases how academic research and industry partnerships can accelerate India’s journey towards a more sustainable, and self-reliant future.”

Dr. Anurag Kulshreshtha from the INNOPAP Lab (Innovations in Paper and Packaging) at the Department of Paper and Packaging Technology at IIT Roorkee, Saharanpur Campus will be leading this research project.

As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce packaging, Amazon ships more than 50% of all customer orders in India either in their original packaging or with reduced packaging. The company ships customer orders in product packaging to more than 300 cities across the country. Since 2019, Amazon India has eliminated 100% of single-use plastic from its packaging across fulfillment centers.

Amazon India is committed to powering our operations more sustainably. The Climate Pledge is Amazon’s goal to reach net-zero carbon across our operations by 2040. We’ve worked fast and made impactful progress over a short period of time, including through investments in carbon-free energy, packaging innovations, electrification of our transport network, circularity improvements, and AI. Amazon has set a goal to return more water to communities in India than it uses in its direct operations by 2027.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit aboutamazon.in and follow @AmazonNews.

Leonardo AW169M Copter

Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed a strategic partnership with Italian aerospace major Leonardo to establish a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India, focusing on military helicopters like the AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM. The deal strengthens India’s defence indigenisation push, with plans for phased local production, maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and pilot training.

Key Highlights of the Partnership

• Parties involved: Adani Defence & Aerospace (India) and Leonardo (Italy)
• Date signed: February 3, 2026
• Scope: Develop, manufacture, and sustain helicopters in India
• Models included: AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM
• Focus areas:
  • Phased indigenisation of production
  • Strong MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) capabilities
  • Comprehensive pilot training programs
• Strategic context: Signed shortly after the Indo-EU trade and defence deal

Why This Matters for India

• Defence self-reliance: Reduces dependence on imported helicopters
• Military readiness: Provides advanced platforms for the Indian armed forces
• Civil aviation potential: May expand to serve domestic civilian demand and global supply chains
• Policy support: Customs duty removed on aircraft components, boosting local manufacturing

Comparison of Helicopter Models

Leonardo AW169M Copter

Leonardo AW109 TrekkerM

Feature	AW169M (Military Variant)	AW109 TrekkerM
Role	Multi-role military ops	Light utility, training, surveillance
Capacity	~10 passengers	~6 passengers
Range	~820 km	~932 km
Special Features	Advanced avionics, mission flexibility	High agility, cost-effective operations
Target Use in India	Armed forces missions	Training, light transport, reconnaissance

Risks & Challenges

• Technology transfer: Ensuring meaningful indigenisation
• Supply chain readiness: Building local component ecosystems
• Geopolitical sensitivities: Past restrictions on Leonardo require regulatory clearance
• Execution timeline: Defence projects often face delays

Outlook

• Positions India as a future hub for helicopter manufacturing
• Aligns with *Make in India* and *Atmanirbhar Bharat* initiatives
• Strengthens military capabilities and opens civil aviation/export opportunities

Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Defence & Aerospace, stated: "This alliance with Leonardo is a pivotal stride toward a resilient, future-proof helicopter ecosystem in India. Merging global excellence with our industrial momentum, we will drive enduring value, high-skill employment, and alignment with Aatmanirbhar Bharat to position India as a global aerospace powerhouse."

India’s hiring market is moving fast, but finding the right talent is getting harder. New research from LinkedIn shows that 74% of recruiters now struggle to find qualified candidates, even as hiring activity runs 40% above pre-pandemic levels.

• 53% of recruiters cite a surge in AI-generated applications as a challenge.
• 47% highlight shortages in in-demand skills.
• 48% say distinguishing genuine applications from low-quality ones adds friction.

LinkedIn platform data shows applicants per open role in India have more than doubled since 2022. Additionally, while 72% of professionals say they’re actively job-hunting in 2026, 85% admit they feel unprepared to navigate the process.

Recruiters are using AI to spot the right skills, hire faster, and make the candidate journey more fulfilling

• 71% of recruiters say AI helps uncover candidates with hidden skills.
• 80% report AI makes gaining insight into candidate skills easier.
• 76% believe AI is already speeding up hiring.

Looking ahead, adoption is set to rise:

• 8 in 10 recruiters plan to expand AI use for hiring goals and applicant evaluation.
• 83% expect AI pre-screening to improve recruiter-candidate conversations.
• 83% believe it will speed up hiring.
• 82% say it will provide better candidate insights.

Ruchee Anand, APAC VP, LinkedIn Talent Solutions: "We’re seeing a structural shift in hiring from pedigree and past titles to demonstrated skills and capability. This shift is hard to execute at scale without AI. Used responsibly, AI helps recruiters detect the right skills earlier, reduce screening friction and create a more consistent and fair evaluation process."

Transparency becomes central to the recruiter–job seeker relationship

• 50% of recruiters in India say they are under pressure to explain how AI is used in hiring processes.

How LinkedIn is helping recruiters hire faster and smarter

• Salary & Notice Period Filters: Reduce friction by allowing candidates to share expectations directly with recruiters.
• Hiring Assistant: AI agent helping companies like AMD, Siemens, Wipro uncover talent faster. Early adopters report:
  • 62% fewer profiles reviewed
  • 4+ hours saved per role
  • 69% improvement in InMail acceptance rate
• Hiring Pro: AI agent for small businesses. Benefits include:
  • 60% find someone to interview within the first week
  • Average of 6+ hours saved weekly
  • AI-powered interview support
  • Conversational interface for refining candidate search
  • AI-assisted personalized InMails

About LinkedIn

LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. Its vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce through the ongoing development of the world’s first Economic Graph. LinkedIn has over 1.2 billion members and offices worldwide. Visit www.linkedin.com or mobile.linkedin.com.

Methodology

Research conducted by Censuswide in November 2025 among 19,113 consumer respondents and 6,554 HR professionals across multiple global markets. Censuswide abides by ESOMAR principles and is a member of the British Polling Council. 

• Registrations for the course close on 18th February 2026

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), in collaboration with the Times School of Media, Bennett University, has launched a short-term course on Communication and Public Engagement in the Space Sector. The intensive, interdisciplinary programme is designed to address the growing need for informed, ethical, and strategic communication in the rapidly evolving global and Indian space ecosystem.

The course brings together practitioners from the space ecosystem, media professionals, and academic experts to offer a structured understanding of space communication, covering areas such as media engagement, crisis communication, digital storytelling, policy communication, and emerging trends including AI-driven journalism. The programme ensures alignment with national skill standards and industry requirements.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe, “This course reflects IN-SPACe’s commitment to building skilled human capital that can bridge the gap between space science and society. Recognition under the NCVET framework ensures that the competencies developed through this programme are benchmarked to national standards, giving participants a meaningful advantage as India’s space sector continues to expand.”

The course will be led by experienced faculty and domain experts, with Mr. Gaurav Kumar, Assistant Director- PR, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe, serving as Course Director.

The course is open to academicians, industry professionals, graduates, researchers, journalists, and media practitioners interested in space communication and public engagement. Registrations are open until 18th February, and interested participants are encouraged to apply at the earliest.

For details and registration, please visit the official course brochure and application link: https://www.bennett.edu.in/communication-and-public-engagement-in-the-space-sector/

• Neverinstall enables secure, low-latency cloud desktops on any device, eliminates expensive hardware, vendor lock-in and complex VDI deployments.
• Funding to accelerate Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI), BYOI model, and an enterprise secure browser for BFSI and healthcare use cases.
• The company records 3x growth in FY26, serves enterprises like Tally, Porter and Primebook, addresses a $21–23Bn VDI, DaaS and GPU virtualisation market.
• Ramesh Gopal Krishna joins as CRO, strengthening go-to-market execution for India and global enterprise expansion.

Equirus InnovateX Fund (EIF), an early-stage venture fund backing next-generation enterprise and infrastructure technologies, has participated in the seed round of Neverinstall, a Cloud PC platform enabling enterprises to stream any application to any device directly through a web browser. Founded in 2021 by Ram and Lakshman Pasala, Neverinstall decouples the operating system from hardware, allowing organisations to access virtual desktops and applications through any device—browsers, thin clients, mobile apps, or native desktop clients.

The investment reflects a broader enterprise shift away from traditional VDI platforms, which are increasingly costly, complex, and restrictive, often exceeding $2,000-3,000 per user annually while delivering limited flexibility and user experience. Neverinstall tackles these gaps with a cloud-native, protocol-agnostic platform powered by its proprietary CloudLink architecture, enabling secure virtual desktop access across web browsers, mobile applications, thin clients, and zero clients without local installations, ideal for GPU virtualization, VDI workloads, application streaming, developers, designers, BYOD setups and distributed teams.

The seed funding will be deployed to accelerate deep-tech infrastructure development and strengthen enterprise security capabilities. Key focus areas include the development of Neverinstall’s Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) platform, enabling a “Bring Your Own Infrastructure” model on commodity hardware, and the launch of an Enterprise Secure Browser with an embedded eBPF-based security layer for compliant workflows including in regulated sectors such as BFSI and healthcare.

Equirus InnovateX Fund (EIF) focuses on backing post-product companies building core enterprise, infrastructure and deep-technology platforms. The fund invests in founders solving structurally complex problems with clear technological defensibility, distribution advantages and the potential to become long-term category leaders, particularly in markets undergoing fundamental transformation.

Commenting on the investment, Mr. Sunder Nookala, General Partner, Equirus InnovateX Fund said,“The enterprise desktop market is going through a fundamental reset. As hybrid work becomes the default, organisations are questioning the cost, rigidity and complexity of legacy VDI platforms. Neverinstall stands out for its browser-native, cloud-agnostic approach that materially lowers total cost of ownership while improving performance and user experience. This aligns strongly with EIF’s focus on backing founders who are re-architecting core enterprise systems for the next decade.”

The VDI and DaaS market is undergoing a structural reset as enterprises move toward multi-cloud environments and browser-first experiences, while legacy platforms remain single-vendor by design and dependent on static provisioning models. This gap has created an opportunity for cloud-agnostic platforms that combine enterprise-grade security with consumer-grade simplicity.

Mr.Lakshman Pasala, Co-Founder and CEO, Neverinstall, added, “Traditional desktop virtualisation is broken for modern enterprises—it’s expensive, inflexible, and complex to run at scale. We took a different path by building a unified stack from the ground up, backed by years of deep R&D across streaming, infrastructure orchestration, and security. EIF’s investment validates our belief that enterprises want technology that truly works, without vendor lock-in. With Ramesh Gopal Krishna joining us, we’re combining deep technology with strong go-to-market execution to build enterprise infrastructure for the next decade.”

Neverinstall is seeing strong enterprise momentum, recording threefold growth in FY26 and building a growing enterprise pipeline for FY’27. The platform is already being used by organisations such as Tally, Porter, Alliance Broadband and Primebook, supporting thousands of employees and validating its ability to deliver high-performance cloud desktops at scale over consumer-grade internet and affordable hardware. With a $21-23 billion total addressable market across VDI, DaaS and GPU virtualisation still largely untapped, EIF believes the company is well positioned to disrupt enterprise desktop provisioning at scale.

To support its next growth phase, Neverinstall has appointed Ramesh Gopal Krishna, a 25+ year sales leader from Microsoft, Meta and Salesforce, as Chief Revenue Officer. The company is now focused on scaling its enterprise presence across India and global markets while evolving into a full-stack workspace orchestration platform.

About Equirus InnovateX Fund (EIF)

Website: https://www.equiruswealth.com/eif

NeverInstall

Neverinstall is a next-generation virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform that delivers cloud desktops, virtual applications, and digital workspaces to any device—browsers, mobile apps, thin clients, or desktop clients—without downloads or installation. Our cloud-native VDI solution eliminates hardware limitations through desktop virtualization, application streaming, and GPU virtualization technologies, making virtual desktop access truly universal. With Neverinstall, organizations can deploy secure virtual workspaces, remote desktop services, and cloud-based desktop infrastructure without the complexity of traditional VDI deployment or on-premises data centers.

Website: https://neverinstall.com

India has officially launched the Semiconductor Mission 2.0 as part of the Union Budget 2026, with a ₹1,000 crore allocation for FY27. The new phase focuses on building domestic capacity in semiconductor equipment, materials, and full-stack Indian intellectual property (IP), while strengthening supply chains and expanding industry-led research and training centres.

Key Highlights of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0

• Launch Date: Announced on February 1, 2026 during the Union Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Budget Allocation: ₹1,000 crore for FY27 to support the initiative.
• Focus Areas:
  • Domestic production of semiconductor equipment and materials.
  • Development of full-stack Indian IP for chip design.
  • Strengthening supply chains to reduce import dependency.
  • Establishing industry-led research and training centres to build a skilled workforce.

Comparison: ISM 1.0 vs ISM 2.0

Feature	ISM 1.0 (2021–2025)	ISM 2.0 (2026 onwards)
Primary Goal	Attract global fabs, expand sector capabilities	Build domestic ecosystem for equipment, materials, and IP
Funding Focus	Incentives for fab units, packaging, design startups	₹1,000 crore for R&D, training, supply chain resilience
Workforce Development	Initial skilling programs	Expanded industry-led training centres
Strategic Emphasis	Infrastructure creation	Self-reliance in semiconductor value chain

Strategic Importance

• Global Positioning: India aims to become a semiconductor powerhouse, reducing reliance on imports from Taiwan, South Korea, and China.
• Economic Impact: Strengthening supply chains will support electronics, automotive, telecom, and defense industries.
• Talent Development: Training centres will help create a skilled workforce, crucial for sustaining long-term growth.
• Innovation Push: By focusing on Indian IP creation, ISM 2.0 seeks to establish India as not just a manufacturing hub but also a technology innovator.

Risks & Challenges

• Capital Intensity: Semiconductor manufacturing requires billions in investment; ₹1,000 crore is a start but may need scaling.
• Global Competition: India must compete with established hubs like Taiwan and South Korea.
• Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Raw material and rare earth dependencies could pose risks.
• Execution: Success depends on effective collaboration between government, academia, and industry.

In short, ISM 2.0 marks India’s pivot from attracting fabs to building a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem, with emphasis on equipment, IP, and workforce development.

• Collaboration to advance research, education, and innovation in Critical Minerals, Mining technologies, and Sustainable industrial processes
• Mahindra University to serve as a SPOKE Institute for IIT Hyderabad’s Centre of Excellence in Critical Minerals
• Focus on Mining 4.0, AI-driven Mining, Autonomous Systems, and Start-up incubation aligned with national priorities

Mahindra University and the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a long-term partnership in research, education, training, and innovation, with a strong emphasis on Critical Minerals, Sustainable Mining, and Advanced industrial processes.

The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s capabilities in Critical Mineral exploration and processing—an area of growing national importance—by combining Mahindra University’s interdisciplinary academic approach with IIT Hyderabad’s strong research ecosystem. The partnership will span frontier domains including Iron ore beneficiation, Coal and mineral processing, Ironmaking and Steelmaking, Mining waste utilisation for infrastructure, extraction of Critical and Rare Earth Minerals, and Process modelling and simulation.

Beyond conventional mining research, the MoU also covers emerging areas such as AI and data analytics in Mining, Mining 4.0, Autonomous systems including Drones and Self-driving vehicles, and Incubation support for Start-ups and Innovators. These efforts are designed to translate advanced research into scalable technologies and skilled human capital for India’s Mineral and Manufacturing sectors.

Under the agreement, Mahindra University will function as a SPOKE institute for a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IIT Hyderabad, enabling structured collaboration between faculty, researchers, and students of both institutions. The engagement will be operationalised through joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and shared access to laboratories and academic infrastructure.

The Ministry of Mines, GoI, has recognized 7 institutes – 4 IITs and 3 R&D Labs – as Centres of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and IIT Hyderabad is one among the 4 IITs. The recognition of CoEs is an important step for fulfilling a key objective of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which is research and technology development in Critical Minerals.

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University, said that the collaboration directly addresses national priorities related to India’s Critical Mineral mission and promotes sustainable, indigenous technological solutions through research-led education.

Prof. B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, noted that India’s transition towards self-reliance in Critical Minerals and resource-efficient industrial processes requires sustained academic collaboration. He said the partnership would expand IITH’s research and training ecosystem, enabling multidisciplinary engagement and the translation of scientific knowledge into real-world technologies and skilled manpower.

The MoU places strong emphasis on capacity building and skill development, with planned initiatives including specialised training programmes for Mining professionals, elective and certificate courses in the Critical Minerals sector, a proposed master’s programme in Minerals and Coal processing, and short-duration programmes for working professionals. The collaboration also envisages seed support and incubation for Start-ups and MSMEs, along with engagement with venture capital firms to support commercialisation of research outcomes.

Designed as a long-term engagement governed by the academic frameworks of both institutions, the partnership seeks to advance knowledge, nurture skilled professionals, and support Atmanirbhar Bharat by strengthening India’s leadership in Critical Minerals and Sustainable industrial technologies.

About Mahindra University:

Mahindra University, Hyderabad (India), is a multidisciplinary, private university with a vision of “Educating future citizens for and of a better world”. It aims to play a significant role in driving globally acclaimed innovation in higher education in the coming years. Mahindra University’s special focus is on generating new knowledge through engagement in cutting-edge research, creating a spirit of research and discovery, experiential learning and entrepreneurship, whilst forging collaborations with industry and global academic institutions. The university is established by the Mahindra Group, one of the largest and most admired multinational federations of companies with presence in over 100 countries and with a turnover of over 25 billion.

Raana Semiconductors Pvt Ltd, a Tamil Nadu-based deep-tech startup, has raised $3 million in a seed funding round led by Equirus Innovatex Fund and Artha Venture Fund, with participation from IvyCap Ventures, PointOne Capital, CIIE Initiatives (IIMA Ventures), and angel investor Garimella Laxminarayana. The funds will accelerate R&D and product development of indigenous silicon ingot growth systems.

Key Highlights of the Funding Round

• Amount Raised: $3 million (Seed round, pure equity)
• Lead Investors: Equirus Innovatex Fund, Artha Venture Fund
• Other Participants: IvyCap Ventures, PointOne Capital, CIIE Initiatives (IIMA Ventures), Garimella Laxminarayana (angel investor)
• Advisory Partner: Prequate Advisory served as the sole strategic advisor

Company Profile

• Name: Raana Semiconductors Pvt Ltd (RSPL)
• Location: Tamil Nadu, India
• Sector: Deep-tech, semiconductor manufacturing equipment
• Specialization: Czochralski (CZ)-based crystal growth systems and single-crystal materials
• Experience: Over a decade in semiconductor technology

Strategic Use of Funds

• Product Development: Building indigenous Czochralski monocrystalline silicon ingot growers capable of producing 10–12 inch diameter silicon ingots.
• Applications: Defence, semiconductor, solar, and medical technologies.
• Roadmap:
  • Short-term: Solar-grade silicon ingots.
  • Long-term: Semiconductor-grade wafers for chip manufacturing.

Why This Matters

• Reducing Import Dependence: India relies heavily on overseas suppliers for silicon ingot growth systems. RSPL aims to localize this critical technology.
• Boost to Semiconductor Ecosystem: Aligns with India’s national semiconductor mission to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
• Cross-Sector Impact: Vital for renewable energy (solar panels), electronics, defence systems, and medical devices.

Quick Comparison: RSPL vs. Global Context

Aspect	RSPL (India)	Typical Global Players
Funding Stage	Seed ($3M)	Series A–C, often $50M+
Focus	Indigenous CZ ingot growers	Advanced wafer fabs, lithography
Market Gap	Local equipment manufacturing	Mature ecosystems in US, Taiwan, Korea
Strategic Value	Reduces import reliance	Expands global dominance

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, announced the launch of Vertiv™ Next Predict, an AI-powered managed service that fundamentally transforms data center maintenance. Moving beyond traditional time-based and reactive models, the service industrializes operations by analyzing asset behavior before risks materialize. Vertiv Next Predict is the latest advancement in Vertiv’s integrated AI infrastructure portfolio, designed to deliver predictive intelligence across power, cooling, and IT systems—creating a unified, resilient foundation for AI-driven data centers.

As AI workloads reshape the data center landscape, facilities require improved visibility and control across critical infrastructure to maintain operational continuity and performance at scale. Implementing advanced analytics and predictive maintenance strategies helps organizations address these challenges and maintain consistent performance across distributed environments.

“Data center operators need innovative technologies to stay ahead of potential risks, as compute intensity rises and infrastructures evolve,” said Ryan Jarvis, vice president of the global services business unit at Vertiv. “Vertiv Next Predict helps data centers unlock uptime, shifting maintenance from traditional calendar-based routines to a proactive, data-driven strategy. We move from assumptions to informed decisions, by continuously monitoring equipment condition and enabling risk mitigation before potential impacts to operations.”

Vertiv Next Predict leverages AI-based anomaly detection to continuously analyze operating conditions and identify deviations from expected behaviors at an early stage, and a predictive algorithm that assesses potential operational impact to determine risk and prioritize response. Root cause analysis then isolates the contributing factors to support efficient and targeted resolution. Based on system data and the specific operational context, prescriptive actions are defined and carried through to execution, with corrective measures performed by qualified Vertiv™ Services personnel.

Engineered for versatility and future growth, Vertiv™ Next Predict currently supports a broad and expanding range of Vertiv™ power and cooling platforms—including battery energy storage solutions (BESS) and liquid cooling components. More importantly, the service is designed with scalability in mind, to enable seamless integration with future data center technologies as part of a unified, grid-to-chip service architecture. This forward-looking approach means customers can adopt Vertiv Next Predict today, with the knowledge that it can evolve alongside their infrastructure needs.

The Vertiv Services organization has decades of service experience in critical digital infrastructure, a global network of Vertiv-trained technicians, and AI-powered analytics.

For more information about Vertiv Next Predict or Vertiv’s end-to-end power and thermal management solutions—including Vertiv™ OneCore scalable prefabricated data center infrastructure solution, Vertiv™ SmartRun modular overhead IT infrastructure system and Vertiv’s expanding portfolio for AI and high-density workloads—visit Vertiv.com.

The Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi), one of India’s leading IITs, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JK DELOPT, an ISO 9001-certified company under the JK Organisation. Through this collaboration, IIT Mandi and JK DELOPT will work jointly on research, innovation, and translation of advanced technologies into deployable solutions with real-world impact.

This collaboration envisions a transformative roadmap where IIT Mandi’s research excellence and JK DELOPT’s industry and manufacturing capabilities converge to develop next-generation sovereign technologies. The partnership aims to strengthen national defence preparedness, enhance strategic self-reliance, and extend technological innovations to civilian sectors, positioning India as a global leader in intelligent, secure, and indigenous solutions. Moreover, this MoU aims to establish a long-term industry-academia partnership focused on indigenous technology development, aligned with the national priorities of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, today announced a multi-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help enterprises modernize legacy systems, adopt agentic AI responsibly and scale innovation across industries.

Combining NTT DATA’s expertise in cloud transformation, cloud-native modernization and Agentic AI with the scale and innovation velocity of AWS services, the collaboration will deliver tailored enterprise solutions that modernize mission-critical workloads, build secure cloud foundations and drive measurable business outcomes across regulated and high-growth industries.

Under the agreement, NTT DATA and AWS will accelerate enterprise transformation in four priority areas:

• AI-driven large-scale cloud transformation: Accelerating the migration and modernization of on-premises workloads on AWS, leveraging generative and agentic AI, automation and data platforms to unlock new business models and drive intelligent operations.
• Industry cloud solutions on AWS: Delivering modern industry-specific, repeatable offerings across financial services, healthcare, life sciences, public sector, manufacturing, retail and energy, leveraging NTT DATA’s Industry Cloud with 500+ extensible business components and AI agents.
• AI and data innovation for modern managed services and client experiences: Operating secure, compliant cloud environments at scale, including a recent collaboration agreement to modernize contact center solutions on Amazon Connect to accelerate the adoption of AI-driven customer experience (CX) solutions worldwide.
• Digital sovereignty and regulated cloud solutions on AWS European Sovereign Cloud: Enabling European governments and enterprises to meet stringent data residency and operational autonomy requirements. As a launch partner for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, NTT DATA will deliver sovereign-by-design cloud solutions and managed services that combine regulatory compliance with the same security, availability and performance clients expect from AWS.

AWS will support NTT DATA in running co-innovation programs, certifications and client events, to help enterprises adopt AI driven cloud solutions faster and with greater confidence.

To advance delivery, NTT DATA has formed a dedicated AWS Business Group, aligned with the AWS sales and delivery structure. This group includes close to 11,000 AWS-certified experts, with the objective of certifying nearly 10,000 more experts over the next three years.

"Cloud and AI are central to enterprise transformation," said Abhijit Dubey, President and CEO, NTT DATA, Inc. “Through our Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS, we are helping clients move beyond experimentation to scale AI impactfully and responsibly. This collaboration underscores our commitment to deliver secure, industry-specific solutions that create tangible business value for our clients worldwide."

“This collaboration will help more enterprise organizations unlock the potential of the cloud and AI to modernize their operations and accelerate innovation,” said Greg Pearson, VP AWS Global Sales. “Through industry-aligned architecture platforms, AI-driven customer experiences, and support in meeting evolving regulatory requirements through the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, we’re enhancing the ability to transform legacy workloads and build modern digital experiences on AWS.”

Proven success with Honda Trading Asia

Honda Trading Asia successfully migrated to the AWS Cloud with the expert support of NTT DATA.

"Migrating to the AWS Cloud with the expert support of NTT DATA has been an essential step in modernizing our systems and infrastructure and provides us with a powerful foundation for AI innovation. NTT DATA were always available to address our technical questions and worked closely with us to stay within our timeline and budget. Their expertise and support ensured a smooth transition, unlocking exciting growth possibilities through AWS,” said Somya Mayuraskoon, Director, Honda Trading Asia Co., Ltd.

Driving AI innovation across industries

NTT DATA will develop dozens of new industry-specific, AI driven cloud solutions on AWS through its Industry Cloud platform to accelerate digital transformation across regulated and high-growth sectors.

• Financial services: The collaboration will modernize core banking and compliance workloads to reduce risk and ensure regulatory requirements.
• Healthcare and life sciences: With support from AWS, NTT DATA will develop secure, AI-enabled data platforms to deliver intelligent insights from business applications, improving outcomes and accelerating research.
• Public sector: NTT DATA will work with AWS to deliver private cloud solutions that meet compliance requirements and enable secure digital services for citizens.
• Manufacturing and automotive: The collaboration will modernize business and IT operations using generative AI and agentic capabilities, driving improved financial and operational efficiency.

Innovation environments on AWS, including sandboxes and dedicated innovation labs will enable NTT DATA and AWS teams to develop, test and refine these solutions before scaling them for enterprise deployment.

NTT DATA will support these innovations with a full-stack suite of services, from advisory and cloud transformation to implementation and managed services, ensuring clients can adopt AWS technologies with speed, security and confidence. This initiative also expands NTT DATA’s Smart AI AgentTM Ecosystem, helping enterprises deploy and manage responsible, business-driven AI at scale.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world’s leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 70 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centres as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D.

Google DeepMind has unveiled AlphaGenome, a breakthrough AI tool designed to predict the molecular impact of DNA mutations and accelerate biological discoveries. Published in Nature on January 28, 2026, AlphaGenome uses deep learning to analyze complex genetic sequences, helping scientists identify disease-causing mutations and understand how genetic changes influence health.

What AlphaGenome Does

• Interpret DNA mutations by analyzing millions of genetic letters and predicting their molecular consequences.
• Identify disease-causing genes, including those linked to cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and mental health conditions.
• Accelerate drug discovery by highlighting potential therapeutic targets.
• Enable faster biological research by reducing the time needed to analyze genetic data compared to traditional methods.

Why It Matters

• Healthcare Impact: AlphaGenome could transform precision medicine by helping clinicians understand which mutations are benign and which are pathogenic.
• Drug Development: By predicting how mutations affect proteins and cellular processes, it provides insights for pharmaceutical companies to design targeted therapies.
• Scientific Discovery: It offers researchers a powerful tool to decode the genome and uncover new biological mechanisms.

Comparison with Other AI in Genomics

Tool	Developer	Focus	Key Advantage
AlphaFold	DeepMind	Protein structure prediction	Revolutionized structural biology
AlphaGenome	DeepMind	DNA mutation impact	Predicts functional consequences of genetic variants
Enformer	Google Research	Gene expression prediction	Specialized in regulatory DNA regions
EVE (Evolutionary Model)	Harvard/Google	Variant pathogenicity	Uses evolutionary data for predictions

Risks & Challenges

• Clinical Validation: Predictions must be rigorously tested before being applied in patient care.
• Data Bias: AI models depend on training data; incomplete or biased datasets could affect accuracy.
• Ethical Concerns: Widespread use raises questions about genetic privacy and responsible application in healthcare.

Looking Ahead

AlphaGenome is available via API, allowing researchers worldwide to integrate it into their workflows. Its release signals a new era where AI becomes central to genomics and precision medicine, potentially reshaping how we diagnose, treat, and prevent genetic diseases.

Infosys has entered into a strategic partnership with Cursor, an AI-powered development platform, to establish a new Center of Excellence that will accelerate the adoption of AI-native software engineering across enterprises.

Announced on January 27, 2026, the collaboration integrates Cursor’s AI-assisted development tools with Infosys’ Topaz Fabric, a suite of agentic services designed to unify infrastructure, models, data, applications, and workflows. Through this initiative, more than 100,000 Infosys engineers will gain access to Cursor’s platform, enabling them to modernize legacy systems more efficiently, build new applications faster, and improve overall developer productivity.

Samsung has opened its new Business Experience Studio (BES) in Gurugram, its second in India after Mumbai, showcasing AI-powered enterprise solutions across industries like healthcare, retail, banking, hospitality, and education. The 6,700 sq. ft. facility is designed to help decision-makers experience real-world applications of Samsung’s connected, secure, and scalable technologies.

Key Highlights of Samsung’s Gurugram BES

• Launch Date: January 28, 2026
• Location: Gurugram, Haryana, India
• Size: 6,700 square feet
• Purpose: To demonstrate how Samsung’s AI-driven, connected B2B solutions can enhance productivity, efficiency, and digital transformation for enterprises.

Features & Offerings

• Immersive Zones:
  • Healthcare: AI-enabled diagnostic and patient management solutions.
  • Retail: Smart displays and connected payment systems.
  • Banking: Secure, interoperable enterprise-grade platforms.
  • Hospitality: Smart room management and customer engagement tools.
  • Education: Digital classrooms powered by Samsung devices and AI.
• Technology Integration:
  • Advanced mobile devices and displays
  • Healthcare equipment and smart appliances
  • Enterprise-grade security and interoperability for scalable deployment

Strategic Importance

• Second BES in India: Expands Samsung’s footprint after Mumbai, reinforcing its commitment to India’s enterprise market.
• Target Audience: Decision-makers from startups, corporates, and industries like retail, banking, hospitality, and healthcare.
• Goal: To position Samsung as a leader in AI-powered enterprise transformation, offering hands-on demonstrations of real-world business scenarios.

Why It Matters

• For Businesses in Gurugram & NCR: Provides a local hub to explore cutting-edge enterprise solutions without traveling abroad.
• For Samsung: Strengthens its B2B presence in India, moving beyond consumer electronics into enterprise ecosystems.
• For India’s Digital Transformation: Aligns with national priorities of AI adoption, smart infrastructure, and secure enterprise solutions.

Comparison: Gurugram BES vs. Mumbai BES

Aspect	Gurugram BES	Mumbai BES
Launch Date	January 28, 2026	Earlier (2024)
Size	6,700 sq. ft.	Similar scale
Focus Areas	Healthcare, Retail, Banking, Hospitality, Education	Retail, Banking, Corporate Solutions
Strategic Role	Expanding enterprise presence in NCR	First BES in India, flagship showcase

France has announced it will phase out US-based video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, and Google Meet across government departments by 2027, replacing them with a homegrown system called Visio. The move is aimed at strengthening digital sovereignty, ensuring data security, and reducing reliance on foreign technology providers.

Key Details of France’s Plan

• Platform: Visio, a domestically developed video conferencing tool.
• Timeline:
  • 2026: Full adoption across French public administration begins.
  • 2027: US-based licenses will no longer be renewed.
• Scope: Applies to all government departments and public servants (approx. 200,000 users).
• Savings: Estimated €1 million per year per 100,000 users by eliminating recurring foreign software licensing costs.

Motivations Behind the Shift

• Digital Sovereignty: France wants to keep sensitive government communications within national infrastructure.
• Security Concerns: US platforms are subject to American laws like the CLOUD Act, raising risks over data access.
• Cost Efficiency: Reducing dependence on commercial foreign platforms lowers long-term expenses.
• European Strategy: This aligns with the EU’s broader push for technological sovereignty.

Comparison: US vs. French Alternatives

Feature	US Platforms (Zoom, Teams, WebEx, Meet)	French Alternative (Visio)
Data Hosting	Primarily US-based servers	Hosted on French infrastructure
Legal Jurisdiction	Subject to US laws (e.g., CLOUD Act)	Governed by French/EU laws
Cost	Recurring license fees	Lower long-term costs
Adoption	Global, widely used	Initially limited to French public sector
Security Focus	Enterprise-grade, but foreign-controlled	Designed for sovereign, secure communications

Risks & Challenges

• Transition Costs: Migrating thousands of users from familiar platforms may cause short-term disruption.
• Interoperability: Collaboration with international partners who still use Zoom/Teams may require bridging solutions.
• User Experience: US platforms are feature-rich and widely adopted; Visio must match usability to gain acceptance.

Broader Implications

• For Europe: France’s move could inspire other EU nations to adopt sovereign digital tools.
• For US Tech Firms: Losing government contracts in France highlights growing resistance to foreign tech dominance.
• For Businesses: Private companies may follow suit if Visio proves cost-effective and secure.