Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services and business solutions, has teamed up with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) to tackle one of India’s most critical issues: sustainable urbanization. The AIRAWAT Research Foundation, established by IIT Kanpur with support from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is focused on reimagining how cities are developed. Through this partnership, TCS and the Foundation will apply artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to address urban planning challenges across India.
According to the United Nations, by 2050, 68% of the global population will live in urban centers, leading to a massive shift from rural to urban areas. India alone will see an increase of 416 million urban residents by that time, driving economic growth but also creating challenges in urban mobility, energy consumption, pollution control, and governance. Without careful planning, urban expansion could strain infrastructure and reduce long-term sustainability.
TCS and IIT-K aim to overcome these obstacles, ensuring cities are resilient, equitable, and climate-conscious. The partnership will focus on transforming urban spaces into thriving ecosystems, integrating AI, data insights, and systems-based thinking.
Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, emphasized, “India’s cities are central to the nation’s growth and have the potential to lead sustainable urban futures. By utilizing AI and data-driven solutions, we aim to create cities that are resilient and climate-conscious. The AIRAWAT Consortium, in collaboration with TCS, is advancing this vision and positioning India as a global leader in sustainable urban development.”
Leveraging its expertise in digital twin technology, TCS will help urban planners simulate and test various scenarios, allowing for better decision-making before actual implementation. The ultimate goal is to create cities that are resilient, ecologically balanced, and adaptable to the challenges of climate change.
Dr Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer at TCS, explained, “The future of urban living lies in our ability to view cities as dynamic ecosystems that evolve in response to changing societal and industrial needs. By collaborating with IIT Kanpur’s AIRAWAT Research Foundation, TCS is applying its capabilities in AI, remote sensing, and data modeling to address current urban issues and anticipate the needs of future cities. We are laying the groundwork for a new era of urban planning—one that is predictive, human-centered, and sustainable.”
The AIRAWAT Foundation is pioneering research in urban planning, moving beyond traditional city management to a more dynamic, systems-based approach that treats cities as living entities. By combining AI with satellite and sensor data, the partnership will address challenges like air quality, flood prediction, and green space optimization to reduce carbon footprints and support climate action.
Prof Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Project Director at AIRAWAT, said, “At AIRAWAT, we are creating a global model of sustainable urbanization based on Indian innovation. This partnership with TCS will help address some of India’s most pressing urban challenges by using AI-driven models, sensor networks, and digital platforms to improve air quality, manage floods, optimize green spaces, and strengthen governance. Together, we aim to make cities more livable and resilient, benefiting millions of urban residents while preparing for a more sustainable future.”
This partnership builds on a decade-long collaboration between TCS and IIT-K and marks an important step in creating AI-driven, sustainable cities. TCS and IIT-K have previously worked on joint research projects, education programs, faculty development initiatives, and more, and have established an ecosystem for Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) at the IIT-K campus. As part of the TCS CoInnovation Network™ (TCS COIN™), IIT Kanpur continues to play a key role in fostering industry-academia collaborations for innovative technological solutions.
TCS, part of the Tata Group, employs over 600,000 associates across 55 countries and generated consolidated revenues of over US $30 billion in FY2025. The company has built enduring client partnerships by consistently applying new technologies to help enterprises adapt and grow.
