IIT Hyderabad launches international certificate programme in Product–Service Systems design

The curriculum alternates between experts from Italy and India, offering exposure to global design practices and collaborative project work. The structure is intended to help participants develop competencies in product–service system thinking, sustainable design methods, strategic innovation, and the ability to address real-world business and design challenges.

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According to an official statement, the programme has been developed as part of IIT Hyderabad’s broader plan to expand international design education and enhance industry-linked innovation. The partnership has been shaped with support from IICCI’s Project Minerva – The Italian Education and Training Hub.

IIT Hyderabad Director Prof BS Murty said the collaboration with POLI.design and IICCI would help strengthen knowledge exchange between India and Italy. He added that the initiative is expected to contribute to building skilled human resources aligned with India’s growing product and service design landscape.

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POLI.design’s former CEO and project faculty member Prof Cabirio Cautela said the institution aims to support India’s upskilling and reskilling needs by sharing its strategic design expertise through this programme.

IICCI CEO and Secretary General Claudio Maffioletti noted that such collaborations help build stronger Indo-Italian business linkages and support the transfer of design capabilities that industries increasingly require.

Role of IICCI and international industry link

The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has facilitated the collaboration under its Minerva Eduhub initiative. According to the IIT Hyderabad statement, the Chamber sees such partnerships as a means to deepen bilateral economic engagement and strengthen design-driven enterprise capabilities.

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Notably, POLI.design is part of the Politecnico di Milano Design System, ranked first in Italy, first in the European Union and sixth globally in the Arts and Design category in QS Rankings 2025, according to an official statement. Established in 1999, the institution focuses on postgraduate education and develops cross-industry programmes using project-based learning and research-led methods.

Through this tri-partite collaboration, the programme is positioned to support professional readiness across sectors that rely on integrated product and service offerings. It also aligns with broader efforts to expand global networks in design, innovation, and industry-oriented education.