The University of Toronto and the Indian Institute of Science are developing a centre of excellence that uses artificial intelligence to build predictive health-care systems - a partnership that builds on U of T's strong partnerships and deep engagement in India.
U of T President Melanie Woodin announced the new initiative - which will work on AI-powered tools to improve early diagnosis of patients, expand access to care and train the next generation of AI and health leaders globally - at an event in Mumbai alongside a commitment by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada to develop a Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy.
Held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the event included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Indian Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary.
The Canadian universities' showcase saw government officials, university leaders and partners from India's higher education and entrepreneurship sectors meet with the founders of startups supported by the U of T India Foundation (UTIF). Opened by U of T in 2023 with support from Tata Trusts, UTIF is supported by a team of six staff in Mumbai who help link U of T academics, particularly from the School of Cities , with India-based partners who are working on sustainable, inclusive solutions to a range of urban challenges.
Woodin said UTIF's work bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators in Canada and India is closely aligned with the two countries' shared goals for economic and talent development.
"The University of Toronto is proud to contribute to the economic and talent priorities of our two countries, building on our deeply valued partnerships across India," Woodin said. "By bringing together the perspectives and skills of students, researchers, health care experts and entrepreneurs in Canada and India, we can advance solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time."
The new initiatives announced at the event by U of T and other Canadian universities, as well as the overall strategy led by Universities Canada, mark a significant step toward implementing the Canada-India Joint Statement issued in October 2025 by Anand and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's minister of external affairs. The statement called for a strengthening of Canada-India ties, including strong "people-to-people ties," with a view to forging economic opportunities and reinforcing strategic stability amid a shifting global geopolitical landscape.
The Universities Canada statement also identified AI, clean energy, health innovation and advanced manufacturing as priority sectors for promoting research commercialization, industry engagement and workforce development between the two countries.
In remarks broadcast on CTV, Carney saluted the presidents of U of T, McGill University, Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia for their engagement in India, including new agreements focused on research collaborations, student exchanges, hybrid campuses and U of T's AI centre of excellence.
"This is an enormous opportunity for both our countries," he said. "It has already been an enormous benefit for both our counties, but it's one that is about to move to the next level."
The government also announced funding for the Indo-Pacific Scholarship and Fellowships for Canadians program. U of T will receive a $520,000 grant from Global Affairs Canada to support partnership development through faculty and student mobility in India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.
With a population of more than 1.4 billion, India represents U of T's second largest source of international students, with more than 1,800 learners enrolled across undergraduate and graduate programs.
"I anticipate that this number will grow in the coming years as the relations between our two countries continues to strengthen," Woodin said.
She added that U of T has provided $63 million in merit-based scholarships to 707 undergraduate students from India since 2020 - and is offering another 274 scholarships this admissions cycle, worth about $25 million. It's part of U of T's commitment to reinvest six per cent of its international tuition revenue annually in scholarships for top ranked international undergraduate students from across the globe.
At the showcase in Mumbai, five UTIF-supported startups had the opportunity to demonstrate their solutions to Carney, Anand and Chaudhary. They included Civilytix, co-founded by students at the Vellore Institute of Technology, which develops solar-powered, AI-enabled greywater recycling systems designed to reduce freshwater consumption; and Trinano, incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, which develops advanced nano-coatings for solar panels to improve durability and energy efficiency.
Anjana Dattani, an assistant professor in the Rotman School of Management who provides mentorship and advice to UTIF-backed startups, said India is home to several emerging and novel climate and sustainability solutions. "The U of T India Foundation is playing a significant role in helping founders translate ideas in clean energy, water and the circular economy into viable enterprises," said Dattani, who attended the startup showcase in Mumbai.
"My work with these startups focuses on strengthening core founder competencies in business model design, stakeholder-centered problem framing, customer discovery and storytelling.
"For faculty, such partnerships provide an opportunity to refine our innovation frameworks in real-world settings while bringing global insights back into our classrooms - reinforcing U of T's tangible impact and thought leadership on urgent sustainability challenges."
Beyond entrepreneurship, U of T's existing initiatives in India include collaborative research - with a focus on sustainable urban development - that pairs faculty with partners in India, as well as working with municipalities and other partners.
U of T also enjoys academic collaborations with several top-ranked Indian institutions including Ashoka University , IIT Bombay and IIT Madras, which recently co-hosted a conference with U of T's School of Cities in Chennai that focused on food, water and waste systems in Indian urban centres. The convening showcased U of T's academic and NGO partners, and featured conference speakers Karen Chapple, director of U of T's School of Cities and a professor of geography and planning, and Joseph Wong, U of T's vice-president, international.
Corporate collaborations include work with Tata Sons on vehicular electrification and carbon capture, and with Tata Consultancy Services on the School of Cities Urban Data Centre and smart home‑care research.
Woodin said the event and related engagements highlight the robustness of U of T's partnerships in India and the array of opportunities ahead.
"We're excited to deepen research collaborations, expand mobility for our students and faculty, and support talent and innovation that deliver meaningful impact for communities in both countries," she said.
