Andhra Pradesh, India, December 23, 2025: NetApp, the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, has joined forces with the Agastya International Foundation to inaugurate the NetApp Data Explorers Lab at Agastya’s campus in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh. The launch represents a significant step in NetApp’s ongoing commitment to strengthening data and artificial intelligence education across India, with a focus on nurturing curiosity, analytical thinking, and real-world problem-solving among young learners.
The inauguration ceremony drew an eminent gathering of national leaders and education advocates, including Mr Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Secretary, CBSE; Dr A S Kiran Kumar, former Chairman of ISRO; Mr Ramji Raghavan, Founder of Agastya International Foundation; Mr K Thiagarajan, Executive Vice Chairman; and Mr Hariharan Ganesan, Executive Director for Partner Relations at Agastya International Foundation.
NetApp was represented by Ms Vasanthi Ramesh, Vice President of Engineering and India Site Lead, alongside Mr Anirudh Atyanand, Senior Legal Counsel for India and South Asia and a member of the CSR Committee, as well as members of the NetApp Social Impact team.
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Designed as a purpose-built experiential learning environment, the NetApp Data Explorers Lab aims to equip students with practical data literacy skills and the confidence to address real-world challenges. The facility houses two fully equipped classrooms, each with 15 high-performance computers, and delivers a comprehensive data science curriculum developed in collaboration with TERC and The Tech Interactive. Learning is further enriched through CODAP, the Common Online Data Analysis Platform developed by Concord Consortium, which enables students to explore, analyse, and interpret data through inquiry-led approaches.
During the 2025–26 academic year, the lab is expected to provide structured data literacy education to more than 1,200 government school students, amounting to over 30,000 hours of cumulative learning. Through project-based methodologies, students gather, organise, visualise, and analyse datasets linked to community-centric themes such as agriculture, water quality, and waste management, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The programme places strong emphasis on contextual and ethical problem-solving. Through Agastya’s DataVerse mega showcase, students present and discuss projects that highlight the real-world applications of data analysis. Each project integrates personal narratives, community challenges, and individual perspectives, demonstrating how data-driven insights can inspire meaningful change and sustainable solutions.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ms Vasanthi Ramesh said, “Data literacy is foundational for both citizenship and careers. Today’s inauguration of the NetApp Data Explorers Lab reaffirms our belief that data, when placed in young hands, becomes a powerful tool for inquiry, innovation, and positive change. This mirrors NetApp’s wider view that intelligent data should serve people, making experiences richer, more connected, and ultimately more meaningful.”
Mr Ramji Raghavan added, “Our partnership with NetApp brings together creativity, technology, and mentorship. The Data Explorers Lab will inspire thousands of children to think critically, explore responsibly, and use data to improve the world around them. We hope this partnership allows more ideas to spread, reaching learners and teachers beyond our boundary, enabling them to engage more meaningfully.”
The collaboration between NetApp and Agastya International Foundation unites industry-leading expertise in data innovation with one of India’s most expansive STEM education ecosystems. Together, they aim to strengthen a pipeline of data-literate youth and support the development of a future-ready innovation workforce for the country.
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