Hyderabad — Furthering the impact of its SkillUp India 4.0, launched in partnership with NSDC, NxtWave, a pioneer in upskilling India’s youth in emerging technologies, has partnered with TIER IV, the pioneering force behind the world’s first open-source software for autonomous driving headquartered in Japan, and the Autoware Foundation, world’s leading open-source software project for autonomous driving, to officially build World’s Largest Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Developer Community.
This groundbreaking partnership aims to position India at the forefront of the global Physical AI revolution. Under this partnership, Indian youth will be equipped with future-ready skills in the rapidly advancing autonomous vehicle sector, bridging the gap between academic curricula and industry requirements.
By integrating artificial intelligence with real-world physical systems, Physical AI is set to transform industries such as transportation, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing. This initiative not only addresses the growing demand for AI-driven mobility solutions but also empowers young innovators with hands-on experience and globally relevant expertise to build intelligent autonomous systems that enhance efficiency, safety, and innovation.
Launched in the esteemed presence of Shri Ved Mani Tiwari (NSDC), Mr Shinpei Kato (TIER IV) and Mr Christian John (the Autoware Foundation), this initiative marks a significant step toward bridging skill gaps and catalysing innovation in AV technology. The AV Developer Community aims to tackle key challenges in India’s talent pipeline, including a lack of awareness about AV technology, an industry-academia disconnect, and the need for a globally competitive workforce in AI-driven mobility. Through this partnership, India is poised to lead the Physical AI revolution, attracting global investments, fostering research, and driving technological breakthroughs across multiple sectors.
Talking about the partnership at the event, Mr Rahul Attuluri, Founder and CEO of NxtWave said, “We are thrilled to announce this partnership, which aligns perfectly with our mission to create a future-ready workforce. By merging NxtWave’s extensive upskilling framework with TIER IV and Autoware’s cutting-edge open-source technology, we are confident in our ability to transform India’s position in AV and Physical AI innovation.”
Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC & MD, NSDC International, spoke at the event about the unique opportunity this partnership provides, stating, “This strategic partnership represents a pivotal moment in India’s journey towards technological leadership. By equipping our youth with cutting-edge autonomous vehicle skills, we are not just filling a talent gap – we are positioning India as a global hub for Physical AI innovation. This aligns perfectly with NSDC’s vision of creating a future-ready workforce that can drive our nation’s growth in emerging technologies.”
Sharing insights about the partnership, Mr Shinpei Kato, Founder and CEO of TIER IV, and Chairman of the Autoware Foundation, said “Our mission has always been to advance the deployment of autonomous driving technology. Through this partnership with NxtWave, we aim to channel our expertise into structured courses that provide both conceptual knowledge and practical application, fostering a new generation of innovators.”
Mr Christian John, President of TIER IV North America and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee at the Autoware Foundation highlighted the importance of this collaboration, adding, “At the Autoware Foundation, we aim to advance open-source autonomous driving more through global collaboration. This partnership with NxtWave and NSDC creates a platform for Indian students to gain hands-on experience, contribute to cutting-edge research, and join a global AV developer community, accelerating innovation in autonomous mobility.”
To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, the program will adopt both offline and online learning models and provide localized content in regional languages empowering students across India. NxtWave is further committed to integrating insights from the collaboration to refine its AV curriculum and introduce new specialized tracks.
The immediate outcomes of the launch are expected to include increased awareness of AV career prospects, core AV skills among youth and strengthened collaboration between industry and academia. In the long term, the initiative aims to create a robust talent pipeline, drive the emergence of new startups and research initiatives, and enhance India’s reputation as a hub for advanced autonomous systems development.
Beyond the AV sector, the initiative is expected to have ripple effects on adjacent industries such as logistics, healthcare, and agriculture. Potential applications include driverless trucks, autonomous medical drones, and autonomous tractors.
The initiative also aligns with the Indian government’s vision for emerging technologies, with the potential for regulatory frameworks and public-private partnerships to scale pilot projects into national initiatives.
