NIIT University (NU), the not-for-profit university in Neemrana, Rajasthan, has partnered with enterprise AI company Fractal to set up an AI & Analytics Centre of Excellence (CoE). Announced on 2 November 2026, the partnership will bring Fractal’s Cogentiq platform, industry datasets and sponsored capstone projects into NU’s engineering classrooms, along with internships and placement opportunities.
The move adds to a growing list of industry-backed AI centres on Indian campuses, from the AKTU AI Centre of Excellence with IBM under the IndiaAI Mission to Gujarat’s new applied AI hub, as universities race to close the gap between what AI courses teach and what employers need.
What the NIIT University–Fractal AI CoE will focus on
According to the university, the Centre of Excellence will concentrate on four areas where enterprise demand is rising fastest:
- Scalable AI infrastructure for building and running models in production
- Generative AI and agentic AI, including multi-agent assistants
- Real-world industry applications built on live business problems
- Machine learning, deep learning and responsible AI, taught using real industry datasets
Students will be introduced to Cogentiq, Fractal’s platform for multi-agent AI assistants and enterprise automation. Selected NU faculty members will provide academic guidance, while Fractal experts will mentor students on the platform’s technology stack, datasets and best practices.
Agentic AI capstones for third-year B.Tech students
Third-year B.Tech students will be able to take up capstone projects drawn from Fractal’s own business and technology needs. Suggested themes include agent interoperability frameworks, cross-system orchestration, enterprise AI workflows and large language model (LLM) gateways, the same kind of skills now covered in professional programmes such as IIT Delhi’s executive certificate in agentic AI systems.
Beyond projects, the partnership sets up a longer engagement through summer internships, NU’s Industry Practice (IP) programme, live projects and placement opportunities with Fractal.
What university and Fractal leaders said
Prof. Prakash Gopalan, President, NIIT University, said industry collaboration is key to preparing students for a changing workplace, and that the partnership will help bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice in AI and analytics.
Prof. Debopam Acharya, Dean – Engineering and Area Director – Computer Science and Engineering, NIIT University, said the CoE will give students a structured platform to work on multi-agent AI platforms, enterprise automation and AI workflows using Cogentiq, with faculty guidance and industry mentorship.
Sandeep Dutta, Chief Practice Officer and Head of APAC, Fractal, said developing the right talent is critical as organisations adopt AI for complex business challenges, and that NU students will gain hands-on experience applying AI in real business contexts.
Why it matters for AI education in India
Most Indian engineering programmes now teach AI, but few give students access to production platforms or enterprise data. Industry-led centres, such as the Green Skills and Applied AI Centre of Excellence at LD College of Engineering, are becoming the main route to that experience. For NU, which has worked with technology firms on campus centres before, including a Microsoft Innovation Center, the Fractal tie-up shifts the focus to agentic and enterprise AI.
Key takeaways
- NIIT University and Fractal will set up an AI & Analytics Centre of Excellence, announced on 2 November 2026.
- Students will work on Fractal’s Cogentiq multi-agent AI platform with real industry datasets.
- Third-year B.Tech students get Fractal-sponsored capstones, plus internships, Industry Practice and placement opportunities.
FAQ
What is the NIIT University–Fractal Centre of Excellence?
It is an AI & Analytics Centre of Excellence at NIIT University, set up with Fractal, focused on scalable AI infrastructure, generative and agentic AI, and industry applications.
Which students benefit from the partnership?
Third-year B.Tech students can take up Fractal-based capstone projects, and NU students more broadly gain access to internships, Industry Practice programmes, live projects and placement opportunities.
Source: NIIT University announcement; Fractal.
Featured image: (L-R) Sandeep Dutta, Fractal; Dr Shivendra Mathur, NIIT University; Prof. Debopam Acharya, NIIT University. Photo: NIIT University
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