Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, Industries, said the government, through AI-enabled classrooms and the AI Literacy Mission, were equipping nearly 20 lakh government school students with the skills required for the future economy.

“We are building a state where innovation is embedded in education, governance and entrepreneurship,” he said while inaugurating a conference of Hyderabad Economic Forum (HEF) 2026 on the theme “One City. One Vision. Infinite Possibilities.”

The event that was hosted by SAS Infra in association with Bower School of Entrepreneurship, brought together over 500 business leaders, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, academics and industry experts to shape Hyderabad’s next growth story and strengthen its position among the world’s leading economic and innovation hubs.

The Minister said, the 20th century was defined by competition for resources, industries and capital, while the 21st century belongs to nations that can attract ideas, talent and innovation.

India’s remarkable rise from 81st to 39th in the Global Innovation Index over the past decade reflects this global shift and underscores the country’s growing innovation strength. Telangana is determined to lead this transformation from the front, he said.

He said India was the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, and Telangana has emerged as one of its most dynamic innovation hubs, earning recognition as a ‘Top Performer’ in the Centre’s States’ Startup Rankings.

“Through pioneering initiatives such as AIKAM, the Telangana Data Exchange (TGDeX), a ₹1,000-crore Fund of Funds for Startups, the proposed AI University, Skill University, and 100 Advanced ITIs, we are creating an ecosystem where innovation is not only encouraged but enabled,” he said.