The company said it will provide applications such as Adobe Firefly, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat free of cost to students through accredited higher education institutions. The offering will include access to software, along with structured curriculum, training modules and certifications intended to prepare students for AI-influenced creative and professional workflows.
Expanding AI access across Indian campuses
The announcement comes at a time when AI tools are increasingly being integrated into design, media, marketing and business processes. By placing its applications directly within campuses, Adobe appears to be focusing on long-term skill development rather than short-term product adoption.
The move also aligns with the government’s broader push around the AVGC sector and job creation targets outlined in the Union Budget 2026. Adobe said it will work alongside government-led initiatives to extend its AI-first tools and curriculum to thousands of schools and colleges that are expected to house Content Creator Labs.
During his remarks at the summit, CEO Shantanu Narayen positioned the initiative as part of a larger effort to expand access to AI skills among Indian students. The emphasis was on readiness for emerging careers, particularly in fields where generative AI and digital workflows are becoming standard.
Adobe also highlighted its approach to generative AI, noting that students would have access to commercially usable AI-generated content and the flexibility to work with multiple models within Firefly. In addition to creative tools, Acrobat Pro was presented as part of a broader productivity stack supporting collaboration and document workflows.
Industry Partnerships and the Push for AI-Ready Talent
Separately, Adobe India announced a partnership with NASSCOM under the FutureSkills Prime initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The focus is on offering industry-aligned courses and certifications to learners across the country.At the summit venue, Adobe showcased ‘Kathāvatār’, a series of short AI-led films based on Indian folklore, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The showcase reflected how AI tools are being used in experimental storytelling formats.
Adobe began operations in India in 1997 and today counts more than 8,000 employees across four campuses, making it the company’s second-largest workforce globally. With this latest announcement, the company is extending its India strategy beyond engineering and product development into structured AI skilling at scale.
How effectively institutions adopt and integrate these tools into the formal curriculum will ultimately determine the initiative’s long-term impact.
