Tech Mahindra and University College London Collaborate for Joint Research in Emerging Technologies

Pune – February 20 th , 2026: Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, announced a collaboration with University College London (UCL) to advance joint research and solution development in Generative AI and quantum computing. The collaboration will focus on next- generation solutions, including world models, domain-specific Small Language Models (SLMs), quantum machine learning, quantum security, and industry-specific AI use cases.

Tech Mahindra will contribute its deep domain expertise in large-scale AI model development, and enterprise solution engineering, while UCL will contribute its leading expertise in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. Together, the two organizations will explore new opportunities across sectors where both have deep experience, including healthcare, telecommunications, advanced manufacturing and business services.

As part of the new agreement, signed at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi this week, Tech Mahindra and UCL will develop a collaboration model that, among other objectives, will aim to build verticalized Large Language Models (LLMs) and world models that can be deployed across enterprises in the UK and scaled globally. The engagement will primarily be driven by Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab, the company’s innovation engine, and will be operated through joint research teams. The teams will be comprised of academics, research fellows and students from across UCL, collaborating with subject matter experts from Tech Mahindra.

Harshul Asnani, President and Head - Europe Business, Tech Mahindra, said, “As enterprises accelerate their adoption of advanced AI and quantum technologies, building scalable, trustworthy, and industry-specific AI systems remains a significant challenge. Our collaboration with University College London brings together academic excellence and real-world engineering expertise to address the gap. By enabling the co-creation of world models and vertical LLMs, the collaboration will deliver measurable value for enterprises across the UK and globally.”

The collaboration model is expected to be replicated across Europe, with both organizations also exploring the potential establishment of a dedicated joint research lab. As part of the collaboration, UCL students will have the opportunity to undertake internships in advanced research areas such as Vertical LLMs, World Models, and Quantum Machine Learning. The program is designed to strengthen the UK’s skilled technology workforce, with scope to expand participation to additional interns and research scholars as the partnership evolves.

Professor Geraint Rees, Vice-Provost Research, Innovation & Global Engagement, UCL, said: “As UCL marks its 200 th year of discovery and innovation, this new partnership with Tech Mahindra marks a major milestone in our global engagement. By bringing together UCL’s strengths in AI and quantum technologies with Tech Mahindra’s deep industry expertise, we are creating a powerful platform to accelerate innovation and deliver real-world impact. This collaboration not only strengthens our research ecosystem but also reinforces the vital role of UK India cooperation in shaping the future of transformative technologies."

The collaboration aligns closely with Tech Mahindra’s UK and Europe growth strategy, reinforcing its commitment to co-innovation with leading academic institutions. Through this collaboration, partners and enterprises will gain access to Tech Mahindra’s global customer ecosystem and benefit from research-led innovation that bridges academia and industry.

About UCL (University College London)

UCL is a diverse global community of world-class academics, students, industry links, external partners, and alumni. Our powerful collective of individuals and institutions work together to explore new possibilities. Since 1826, we have championed independent thought by attracting and nurturing the world's best minds. Our community of more than 50,000 students from 150 countries and over 16,000 staff pursues academic excellence, breaks boundaries and makes a positive impact on real world problems. We are consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the world and are one of only a handful of institutions rated as having the strongest academic reputation and the broadest research impact. We have a progressive and integrated approach to our teaching and research – championing innovation, creativity and cross-disciplinary working. We teach our students how to think, not what to think, and see them as partners, collaborators and contributors.  For 200 years, we are proud to have opened higher education to students from a wide range of backgrounds and to change the way we create and share knowledge. We were the first in England to welcome women to university education and that courageous attitude and disruptive spirit is still alive today. We are UCL.

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For more information about UCL, please contact:

Sophie Vinter, Senior Global Engagement Communications Manager, UCL
Email: [email protected]

About Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM) offers technology consulting and digital solutions to global enterprises across industries, enabling transformative scale at unparalleled speed. With 149,000+ professionals across 90+ countries helping 1100+ clients, Tech Mahindra provides a full spectrum of services including consulting, information technology, enterprise applications, business process services, engineering services, network services, customer experience & design, AI & analytics, and cloud & infrastructure services. It is the first Indian company in the world to have been awarded the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta Seal, which recognizes global companies that are actively leading the charge to create a climate and nature-positive future. Tech Mahindra is part of the Mahindra Group, founded in 1945, one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies. For more information on how TechM can partner with you to meet your Scale at Speed™ imperatives, please visit https://www.techmahindra.com

For more information on Tech Mahindra, please contact:

Abhilasha Gupta, Global Head – Corporate Communications, Tech Mahindra Email: [email protected] ; [email protected]