PAGE and 8chili partner to launch India’s first AI and VR powered pharma training platform

The Pharmaceutical Academy for Global Excellence (PAGE), an initiative of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), has announced a strategic partnership with 8chili Inc. to launch India’s first artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) powered training platform for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The collaboration aims to address the industry’s shortage of job-ready talent in quality, production, and regulatory roles as India targets $130 billion in pharmaceutical growth by 2030.

The initiative also reflects a broader shift in the industry toward technology-enabled workforce development, as global regulators place increasing emphasis on demonstrable shop-floor competence, training rigor, and data integrity. By introducing immersive and AI-driven training at scale, PAGE and 8chili aim to establish a new benchmark for industry-led pharma education in India.

By integrating 8chili’s HintVR immersive learning library with the SkillsForge AI platform, PAGE will move from classroom-based instruction to a continuous, industry-grade capability model. Learners will be able to interact with intelligent digital twins of real machines, SOPs, and manufacturing processes, enabling hands-on experience before entering a live plant.

The platform will support PAGE’s flagship programmes for both fresh graduates and practising professionals. Deployment begins immediately, and the technologies will form a core component of PAGE’s upcoming state-of-the-art training facility in Ahmedabad, scheduled to open in 2027.