The Government of Andhra Pradesh has signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Australian institutions to strengthen collaboration in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, school education, student mental health and workforce development.
The agreements were signed during a high-level visit by an Australian delegation led by Julian Hill, Australia’s Assistant Minister for International Education, Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs. The partnerships support Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leading hub for clean energy innovation, advanced manufacturing and global investment.
Solar Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at IIT Tirupati
The flagship agreement was signed between the Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition (CoEET), Visakhapatnam, IIT Tirupati, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, one of the world’s leading institutions in photovoltaic research.
The partnership will establish a Centre of Excellence for Solar Manufacturing at IIT Tirupati.
The centre will focus on:
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing
- Solar panel recycling
- Circular economy solutions
- Joint research and innovation
- Laboratory development
- Skill development for clean energy engineers and researchers
The initiative originated from discussions held during Nara Lokesh’s visit to Australia in 2025.
Strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s Clean Energy Ecosystem
Speaking on the partnership, Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh Minister for HRD, IT and Electronics, said the state is developing one of India’s most ambitious renewable energy ecosystems.
He said the vision extends beyond renewable energy generation to building an integrated ecosystem comprising advanced manufacturing, world-class research, innovation and a highly skilled workforce.
According to Lokesh, the collaboration with IIT Tirupati and UNSW will help establish Andhra Pradesh as a national centre for clean energy innovation while preparing the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.
MoUs Focus on Education and Workforce Development
Another key agreement was signed between UNSW, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) and Samagra Shiksha Andhra Pradesh to strengthen teacher capacity-building across the state.
The programme will provide professional training and specialised teaching methodologies for primary and secondary school educators, supporting improvements in inclusive school education.
The remaining MoUs focus on student mental health initiatives and workforce mobility, further expanding cooperation between Andhra Pradesh and Australia across education, research and human capital development.
Strengthening India-Australia Collaboration
Before the signing ceremony, the Australian delegation met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at his camp office in Undavalli to discuss long-term cooperation in economic development, industrial growth and higher education.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s investor-friendly policies, infrastructure expansion and opportunities in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing the state’s ambition to become a preferred destination for global partnerships and sustainable industrial growth.
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