Microsoft opens new campus in Hyderabad, partners with Telangana government to impart AI training to 1.2 lakh people

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy emphasized that “the future belongs to Artificial Intelligence” during the inauguration of Microsoft’s new campus in Hyderabad on Thursday. Joined by Minister for IT & Industries D. Sridhar Babu, the event marked Microsoft’s 25th anniversary in the city.

The new campus, located in Gachibowli, spans 1.1 million sq. ft. and is LEED-certified. It will accommodate 2,500 additional employees, contributing to Microsoft’s workforce of over 20,000 professionals in India, with more than half based in Hyderabad. The company also plans to hire an additional 4,800 employees, as the city remains its largest R&D hub outside the US.

Microsoft announced a series of initiatives in partnership with the Telangana Government, aiming to train over 1.2 lakh individuals in AI. As part of the ADVANTA(I)GE TELANGANA program, Microsoft will launch an AI Foundations Academy in 500 government schools, benefitting 50,000 students. The AI-Industry Pro program will upskill 20,000 professionals, and the AI-Govern initiative will train 50,000 government officials in areas like digital productivity, generative AI, and cybersecurity.

Additionally, Microsoft will set up an AI Centre of Excellence (AICoE) in collaboration with the Telangana Government and other stakeholders. This centre will feature a cloud-based infrastructure for AI development, including a central AI Knowledge Hub containing research, case studies, and best practices.

Microsoft also revealed plans to double its investment in hyperscale AI data centres in Telangana, with an additional Rs 15,000 crore planned for the coming years.

Speaking at the event, Revanth Reddy stated, “Hyderabad and Microsoft have grown together, and as a proud representative of this state, I can confidently say that this is just the beginning. Hyderabad is now recognized as a technology powerhouse, attracting global talent. With partners like Microsoft, the future is even brighter.”

He also underscored the importance of AI, adding, “The future belongs to Artificial Intelligence. This collaboration will strengthen our startup ecosystem, offering mentorship, AI tools, and access to a global network.”

An MoU outlining these initiatives was signed between Microsoft and the ITE&C department, following a meeting between the CM and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in January 2025, where they discussed modernizing government IT, cloud infrastructure, and accelerating AI adoption.

IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu praised the new campus and AI initiatives, highlighting Microsoft’s commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation in the state.

Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director and President of Microsoft India Development Centre, also spoke at the event, stating, “The new building reflects our commitment to Telangana’s innovation ecosystem and India’s vision of becoming an AI-first nation. This expansion will provide cutting-edge infrastructure to enable innovation and accelerate AI development.”