AI is increasingly powering physical systems through robotics and automation, creating a strong opportunity for India to build a globally competitive talent ecosystem. The conversation explores why robotics education, interdisciplinary learning, and stronger industry-academia collaboration are becoming essential to prepare students for a future where humans and intelligent machines work together. It also highlights the role of Physical AI, hands-on learning, and innovation-driven curricula in shaping India’s next generation of engineers and technology leaders.
1. As robotics and AI become increasingly integrated into everyday industries, do you believe robotics education will soon become as fundamental as computer education in schools and colleges?
Robotics education is most likely to become increasingly fundamental as industries move toward AI-driven and autonomous operations. We are entering a phase where AI is extending beyond digital systems into the physical world through robots, intelligent machines, and autonomous technologies. As adoption expands across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, mobility, and infrastructure, there will be growing demand for talent skilled in robotics, automation, and human-machine interaction.
While India already has a strong digital and software foundation, the next opportunity lies in building talent capable of designing and managing intelligent physical systems. Moreover, early exposure to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programmes through innovation labs will help students become more comfortable with technology-led environments.
2. The future workforce will likely work alongside intelligent machines rather than compete with them. How should educational institutions evolve to prepare students for this human-robot collaboration era?
The future of the workforce will be a collaboration between humans and intelligent machines, where technology not only supports but also enhance human efforts. To adapt advanced workforce systems, it is important for education institutions to evolve from theoretical concepts to more interdisciplinary and application-oriented curriculums. Robotics, AI, automation, and human-machine interaction need to be introduced much earlier through hands-on, application-driven learning environments that combine theory with real-world problem-solving.
Simultaneously, critical thinking, adaptability, communication and systems-level understanding will play a significant role, as future jobs will focus more on supervising, optimising and collaborating with intelligent technology.
Additionally, stronger industry integration via internships, live projects, robotics labs and research tie-ups will allow students to pick up on the moving targets of workplace reality and prepare them for technology-driven industry genomes.
3. Robotics combines mechanical engineering, AI, software, design, and problem-solving. Do you think traditional engineering education is still aligned with industry realities, or does it require a complete overhaul?
Traditional engineering education has built a strong technical base, but industry requirements today are becoming far more interdisciplinary. Modern robotics brings together AI, software, electronics, controls, mechanical engineering, and automation, while industries are seeking engineers who can seamlessly work across these domains and develop integrated, real-world technology solutions
What is needed is not a complete overhaul, but a shift towards more practical, project-based, and research-oriented learning. There needs to be more emphasis on prototyping, simulation, autonomous systems, Physical AI, and automation technologies that exist in the world for students.
This is where academia and industry collaboration also plays an important role, because tech cycles are moving faster than traditional curriculum updates. Live projects, research programmes and those running industry-led labs can impart students with a skill set that reflects the realities of industrial and engineering workplaces in the years to come.
4. Countries globally are investing heavily in automation and Physical AI. What role can India play in building a globally competitive robotics talent ecosystem over the next decade?
India is well-positioned to emerge as one of the largest global players in terms of robotics talent and innovation. We have the expertise in software, AI and engineering talent already in place that can serve as the launch pad for advanced robotics and Physical AI ecosystems.
The next step is building tighter connections between academic, research and industry. Experiential learning spaces like Centres of Excellence, robotics laboratories, internships, and industry-academia collaborative R&D programmes ensure exposure to applied automation systems and current cutting-edge technologies for students.
India also has the advantage of scale. As automation adoption expands across manufacturing, warehousing, mobility, and infrastructure, the country has an opportunity to develop cost-effective and scalable robotics solutions for both domestic and global markets while building a strong future-ready talent pipeline.
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5. From autonomous mobile robots to humanoids, robotics is evolving rapidly. What are the key skills students and young engineers should focus on today to remain relevant in the future workforce?
Robotics is an integration of both hardware and software intelligence. Hence, students need to build expertise across AI and software while also developing a strong understanding of mechanical systems, electronics, and controls engineering. Alongside technical skills, capabilities like adaptability, problems solving and systems thinking would take precedence. Exposure to practical learning environments and open-source platforms is equally vital, as they help students understand the real-world application of engineering across different industrial and technology-driven environments.
6. Addverb has been working closely with academic institutions and centres of excellence. How important is industry-academia collaboration in bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world engineering challenges?
Collaboration between industry and academia is of paramount importance, as technology is advancing at a much faster pace than the conventional academic cycles. While classrooms provide theoretical knowledge, students need practical exposure to real systems (industrial, environment and challenging engineering) too.
Academia-industry partnerships are focused towards application based learning, MOOCs and immersive modules in robotics labs, internships, workshops and project-based learning. It gives students a much better exposure to AI, autonomous systems and intelligent automation technologies in real world settings.
(The author is Co-Founder & COO of Addverb)