IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu with officials during a meeting with the leadership of Orica in Melbourne. | Photo Credit: Arrangement
During his official visit to Australia, Telangana’s IT and Industries Minister, D. Sridhar Babu, emphasized the growing preference of global enterprises for establishing innovation and technology hubs within the state.
Minister Sridhar Babu also highlighted the state government’s plans for a Telangana School of Life Sciences. This initiative aims to cultivate a robust pipeline of skilled talent, further propelling the growth of Telangana’s dynamic Life Sciences sector.
While in Australia to address the esteemed AusBiotech International Conference 2025, a leading event in the Asia-Pacific, Mr. Sridhar Babu engaged in productive discussions with various industry leaders. He also oversaw the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Telangana government and RMIT University, Melbourne, signifying a new partnership for collaboration in life sciences education, research, and innovation.
He stated, ‘As we progress with establishing the Telangana School of Life Sciences, these collaborations are crucial for nurturing a highly skilled, research-focused workforce that will propel innovation and define India’s biotechnology future.’
IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and officials during a meeting with RMIT University team in Australia. | Photo Credit: Arrangement
This strategic partnership with RMIT University aligns perfectly with Telangana’s ambitious vision: to nurture world-class talent, drive innovation, and establish Hyderabad as a global leader in biotechnology education and research. The Letter of Intent was officially signed by Catherine Itsiopoulos, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of RMIT University, and Shakthi Nagappan, CEO of the Telangana Life Sciences Foundation.
In a separate meeting, Minister Sridhar Babu met with Sanjeev Gandhi, CEO and Managing Director of Orica, in Melbourne. They discussed Orica’s plans to boost investments in Telangana, focusing on the Australian firm’s expertise in industrial explosives manufacturing, mining, and infrastructure solutions.
Orica already maintains a significant Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, which employs approximately 600 skilled professionals specializing in digital engineering, automation, and advanced analytics.
During their discussion, Mr. Sridhar Babu showcased Telangana’s thriving Global Capability Centre (GCC) ecosystem, its top-tier infrastructure, and forward-thinking industrial policies that consistently attract international businesses to establish innovation and technology centers in the state. He extended an invitation to Orica to explore further collaborative ventures in industrial innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation across Telangana’s manufacturing and mining industries.
In response, Mr. Gandhi commended the state government’s proactive engagement with the industry and reaffirmed Orica’s commitment to a continued partnership with Telangana, with plans to expand its presence in India, according to a release from the Minister’s office.