SAP Labs India and Germany-based SRH University have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand their academic collaboration to India, with a focus on integrating industry-oriented digital skills into higher education programmes.
The agreement, signed in Bengaluru by SAP Labs India Managing Director Sindhu Gangadharan and SRH University Managing Director Thorsten Bagschik, seeks to establish a framework for curriculum development, certification integration and industry-linked learning, according to a statement.
The development comes during a visit by an official Berlin Senate delegation to India.
The partnership builds on an earlier collaboration between SAP and SRH University launched in Germany in December 2025 and extends the model to India. Under the arrangement, students in participating institutions are expected to gain exposure to enterprise technology training modules and certification pathways linked to SAP systems.
As part of the initiative, students and faculty will be given access to SAP Learning Hub, student edition. The access includes learning materials, practice environments, live sessions and up to two certification exam attempts annually.
The programme also proposes changes to the certification process by introducing assessment formats that emphasise practical application and problem-solving rather than theoretical memorisation.
The announcement comes at a time when SAP continues to report growth in its core cloud and enterprise software business, though with mixed signals in recent quarters. In its third-quarter 2025 results, the company reported cloud revenue growth of about 22 per cent and total revenue growth of around 7 per cent year-on-year, alongside an increase in operating profit.
However, investor sentiment around the company has remained cautious, particularly over the pace of growth in its cloud business and broader market conditions affecting deal closures and revenue visibility.
Industry-academia collaborations have been increasingly adopted as part of efforts to address skill gaps in areas such as enterprise technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Companies have been working with universities to align academic curricula with evolving industry requirements.
SAP has outlined plans to train millions of individuals in digital and AI-related skills by the end of the decade, with partnerships with educational institutions forming a key part of that strategy.
Officials said the integration of enterprise-focused learning into university programmes is expected to create a pipeline of trained professionals for technology-driven sectors. However, such initiatives typically depend on adoption by institutions and sustained participation by students and faculty.
Gangadharan said closer engagement between industry and academia was necessary to prepare the workforce for changes in the digital economy. Bagschik said the collaboration aims to connect academic learning with industry requirements and expand access to globally recognised certifications.
SAP Labs India has been involved in multiple collaborations with academic and skilling institutions in the country as part of broader efforts to strengthen the digital talent ecosystem.
