SAP sets out plan to train 2 million people in India on AI skills by 2030

For CIOs struggling to find people who can put AI to work in the enterprise, SAP is betting that the answer lies in building the talent pipeline itself. On October 28, the company announced new programs under its goal of equipping two million people in India with AI-ready skills by 2030. The target is part of a global pledge to train 12 million people worldwide in the same period.

SAP says the effort will expand existing learning, certification and workforce-development initiatives, working with academic institutions, industry partners, government bodies and community organizations. The focus is on practical skills in AI, cloud, data and enterprise technologies.

India is central to the plan. The country accounts for 28% of the world’s STEM workforce and 23% of global software engineering talent, according to SAP, and about 48% of SAP’s certified learners worldwide. Manish Prasad, president and managing director of SAP Indian Subcontinent, said the country’s technology strength has always rested on its people, and that preparing them for the next wave of innovation requires sustained investment in how they learn and apply their skills. By his account, nearly 13% of the two million target, or roughly 260,000 people, has already been reached through certification, student education and community programs. Those learners include employees of SAP customers and partners, students exploring SAP technologies, and people from underserved communities gaining access to STEM learning.

Government and vocational training

SAP works with state governments and skill-development institutions to align training with regional workforce needs. Through the Future Right Skills Network, it collaborates with industry partners and India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to build AI and workplace readiness among vocational learners. The program gives students at Industrial Training Institutes foundational AI learning, communication skills and industry exposure so they can apply technology in real workplace settings.

Universities and industry

On the academic side, SAP University Alliances, SAP Learning Hub Student Edition and partnerships with educational institutions provide engineering students with industry-relevant skills and a path to certification in AI, cloud, data and enterprise technologies. One recent example is a Career Readiness Training Programme launched by PwC India and SAP India with KIIT Bhubaneswar, which pairs SAP-certified learning with practical industry experience.

Upskilling working professionals

For students, early-career hires and experienced professionals, SAP offers role-based learning, hands-on practice and industry-recognized credentials covering emerging technologies, including AI-enabled business applications. The company says its performance-based assessments test how learners apply knowledge in real-world scenarios, including with SAP Joule for Consultants, which ties certification more closely to what employers need.

Reaching beyond the tech hubs

SAP’s inclusive programs target women, unemployed graduates and young people outside established technology centers. Its STEM and community offerings include more than 1,100 combined curriculum hours in AI, digital and workplace skills, along with mentoring and employment support. Programs such as Code Unnati, Digital Academy and AI Careers for Women combine technical training with hands-on projects and career guidance, and are meant to reach learners in Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations.