Centre of Excellence for Future Skills Launched in Maharashtra | 12 Mar 2026

Why in News? 

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and American multinational Honeywell have jointly established a new Centre of Excellence at the institute’s Powai campus in Mumbai to strengthen sustainability education and future skills development.  

Key Points:  

• Objective: The initiative aims to train over 100,000 students by 2030 in sustainability‑related fields. 
  • Promote research in energy efficiency, clean technologies, and industrial sustainability. 
  • Prepare students for future-ready careers in green and emerging sectors. 
• Funding: It is fully funded by the Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation, covering infrastructure, curriculum design, workshops, and research programs. 
• Pilot Phase: In its initial phase over the next two months, the centre will focus on building core infrastructure, developing specialised curriculum and training the first batch of 250 students.  
• Programmes: It will offer certificate‑based courses that blend classroom learning with project‑based practical experience linked to real‑world sustainability challenges.  
• Focus: The centre focuses on renewable energy, sustainable industrial automation, smart infrastructure, and digital technologies for climate action. 
• Significance: The centre supports India’s transition towards a sustainable and future‑ready workforce, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry demands in emerging sustainability domains.