In a major push to prepare young people for climate-focused careers, the 1M1B Foundation has partnered with Microsoft, MeitY Startup Hub and the Government of Karnataka to launch a Green Skills and Applied AI for Climate Action Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
The facility has been set up at the Government Sri Krishnarajendra Silver Jubilee Technological Institute and is designed to give students practical exposure to renewable energy systems and applied artificial intelligence. The centre includes a gaming and design studio, hands-on equipment to understand solar and wind energy fundamentals, and an automotive section where learners can study how electric two-wheelers function. A digital library has also been established to support research and continuous learning.
Programme Aims to Skill 100,000 Youth by 2030
This Bengaluru CoE is the first of five such centres planned under the Green Skills and Applied AI for Climate Action programme. The broader initiative aims to skill 100,000 youth by 2030. In its first year, the programme plans to train 20,000 young individuals, with at least 10,000 expected to access jobs, internships, apprenticeships, project-based work and other livelihood opportunities.
Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar said the Centre of Excellence would expand career pathways and strengthen employment outcomes for students. He noted that the state is increasingly focusing on skill-based, employment-oriented education within its higher education institutions.
Speaking at the launch, a Microsoft leader highlighted that climate change remains one of the most urgent global challenges. With the rapid advancement of generative AI, new tools are emerging that can help address environmental and social issues at scale. He also pointed out that individuals with green skills are seeing faster employment growth, and global demand in this sector is expected to rise sharply by the end of the decade.
Manav Subodh, Founder of 1M1B, said the programme aims to nurture youth as climate problem-solvers and innovation leaders. He emphasized that outreach efforts will extend to rural regions and tier-2 and tier-3 cities, ensuring that talent beyond major urban centres gets access to infrastructure and opportunity.
The centre will enable students to work on real-world climate challenges through applied AI projects and innovation cohorts. Top participants will receive incubation support, access to go-to-market pathways, internships with climate-tech startups, and advanced career-building opportunities. A national Problem Solvers Registry will also be created to connect governments with skilled young innovators capable of addressing state-level and national climate priorities.
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