Octave, VIT-AP signed MoU to support industry-driven AI innovation

On Thursday, VIT-AP Vice-Chancellor P. Arulmozhivarman and representatives of technology company Octave after signing an MoU. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Technology company Octave and Vellore Institute of Technology–Andhra Pradesh (VIT-AP University) have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) and Software Engineering.

A statement Thursday (Aug. 27, 2026) said the partnership aims to provide students and faculty with hands-on exposure to real-world technology challenges while creating opportunities for industry mentorship, research, internships and potential career opportunities.

As part of the collaboration, Octave will provide industry-defined problem solutions, primarily focused on AI/ML applications, along with selected software engineering challenges. Student teams will work on these problems under the guidance of Octave professionals, developing and presenting solutions for assessment and review.

The program will follow a structured project model, with each team composed of one professor, four students, and two Octave mentors. Projects are expected to be completed by the quarter, allowing the program to go through several cycles of problem-solving, experimentation, mentoring and evaluation over the course of the year.

Octave Chief Technology Officer Vivek Mokashi said the initiative was designed to provide students with an opportunity to tackle real industry challenges and develop confidence in applying technology to complex challenges. He said the company sees collaboration with academic institutions as an important part of building future talent and innovation ecosystems.

VIT-AP Vice-Chancellor P. Arulmozhivarman said the partnership will expose students and faculty to contemporary applications of AI/ML and software engineering and enhance hands-on learning and problem-solving capabilities. He added that the initiative will also help create stronger pathways to internships and future employment.

The collaboration will include cross-campus presentations featuring Octave mentors and VIT-AP faculty, providing opportunities to share knowledge and showcase project results. Octave will also review and offer suggestions regarding the AI/ML VIT-AP curriculum to help align academic content with changing industry requirements.

Vice President of Software Development, Octave, Raj Sekhara Rao Sakhamuri said that working on industry-defined challenges will help students develop skills in understanding problems, testing ideas, collaborating and translating concepts into practical solutions.

Octave Manoj Patloori, head of talent acquisition, India and APAC, said the partnership will connect academic learning with employability through hands-on projects, hackathons, internships and potential career opportunities.

Published – 27 Aug 2026 23:40 IST