New Delhi: The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) and Athenian Tech Private Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to advance research in the realm of cybersecurity, education and industry collaboration, with joint areas of cooperation across AI/ML and digital identity protection. IIIT H is one of the premier deemed autonomous universities in India and Athenian Tech is a leading digital risk management company specialising in AI and ML-powered cybersecurity solutions. The MoU was signed by U Deva Priyakumar, Dean of Research and Development at IIIT Hyderabad, and Kanishk Gaur, Chief Executive Officer of Athenian Tech Private Limited.
Under the partnership, both sides will work together to enable capacity development through government-industry partnership. The collaboration aims to create a connected ecosystem, promote awareness and capacity-building programmes by synergising stakeholders, identify training needs and organise interactions and workshops for the mutual benefit of all concerned. The partnership is built around the co-launch of courses that will unlock the potential of AI and ML in cybersecurity.
Bridging Academia and Industry
U Deva Priyakumar, Dean Research and Development at IIIT Hyderabad said, “India is at a defining moment in its technology journey – a country that has built impressive digital infrastructure but must now invest with equal seriousness in securing it. At IIIT Hyderabad, we have always believed that the most meaningful research is research that solves problems in real life. Cybersecurity, powered by AI and ML, is that kind of challenge – urgent, complex and deeply consequential. Athenian Tech brings real-world expertise in digital risk, identity protection and threat intelligence that very few organisations can match. This partnership allows us to bridge the gap between what we find out in our labs and what the world needs on the ground. We hope to build knowledge, develop talent and generate solutions together that make India’s digital ecosystem more secure, more resilient and more self-reliant.”
CEO of Athenian Tech Private Limited Kanishk Gaur said, “The pace at which cyber threats are evolving today is indeed alarming. The attack surface is widening at a rate which most organisations will find it difficult to manage. This will include threats like identity theft and financial fraud to ransomware attacks, cryptojacking, and APTs. At Athenian Tech, we use AI and ML on a daily basis to stay ahead of these threats and shield businesses from the fallout of digital risk. But technology alone will not be enough. What India needs is a generation of researchers, engineers and practitioners who understand these threats at a deeper level – not just in theory, but in practice. IIIT Hyderabad is the perfect partner for that mission. Their research culture, academic rigour and track record of producing some of India’s finest technology talent make this one of the most natural collaborations we could have entered into. I hope the joint courses, research and intellectual property we will create, going forward, will become a true benchmark for how academia and industry can work together to make India truly secure and self-reliant in cyberspace.”
