Tech Mahindra has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), one of the world’s leading institutions in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Cybersecurity, to drive AI-led innovation, advanced skill development, and collaborative research. As part of this partnership, Tech Mahindra will establish its first Makers Lab in the United States, located in Dallas, to accelerate breakthroughs in Generative AI (GenAI), Agentic AI, Quantum Computing, Cognitive Networks, and next-generation Cybersecurity.
The new Makers Lab will serve as a cutting-edge research and development hub, engaging undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students, along with faculty researchers from globally recognized universities. The facility aims to foster hands-on innovation in AI, machine learning, data science, and emerging technologies, enabling students to work on real-world industry challenges.
Manish Mangal, President & Head – Americas Communication Business, Tech Mahindra, said, “As Generative AI continues to transform industries worldwide, the greatest opportunity and challenge lie in translating cutting-edge academic research into practical, ethical, and impactful solutions for enterprise. Our partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas demonstrates our unwavering commitment to fostering innovative ecosystems that unite academia and industry. Together, our joint initiatives will enable American enterprises to lead the way in the new era of intelligent technologies.”
Through this collaboration, Tech Mahindra will provide practical AI use cases, proprietary datasets, real-world problem statements, and domain insights for academic exploration. Both organizations will jointly develop intellectual property, AI frameworks, automation tools, and commercialization-ready solutions. UT Dallas will support the initiative through its strong foundation in applied AI research, domain expertise, faculty mentorship, and state-of-the-art research infrastructure.
The first phase of the collaboration will also see UT Dallas interns engaged for a 3-6-month period, working on real-world research projects and proofs of concept. Students will gain access to Tech Mahindra’s AI tools, platforms, and Makers Lab facilities, while receiving mentorship from industry experts. The research themes of the collaboration include AI skill development and capacity building, knowledge sharing through seminars and hackathons, ethical and inclusive AI design, and applied R&D utilizing GenAI and Agentic AI for real-world use cases.
Dr. Stephanie Adams, Dean & Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science, said, “We are excited to launch this new collaboration between Tech Mahindra and the Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, as we continue to bridge academic research with industry needs and expand our students’ opportunities for internships and student projects.”
Beyond research excellence, the initiative reflects Tech Mahindra’s commitment to local job creation, talent development, and community enrichment. Through hands-on projects, mentorship, and direct exposure to enterprise innovation challenges, students and early-career professionals will gain access to advanced research environments, accelerating their professional growth while contributing tangible outcomes to local industry and digital transformation efforts.
