Kochi: IBM and Startup village have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to equip engineering students and young professionals with knowledge and skills which will better position them in the IT industry. The collaboration will also help them build business solutions that address the issues enterprise customers are facing in the Smarter Planet industries. As a part of this MoU, IBM will help students at Startup village here, a public private partnership with Union Government, Department of science and various other organisations, to attain industry-ready skills through its Career Education and Academic Initiative programme, a press release today said. The MOU was signed a couple of days ago. The students will also undergo experiential learning programmes through Career Education Projects and take part in The Great Mind Challenge (TGMC) contest,the largest technological contest certified by the Limca Book of Records. TGMC is an academic initiative that supports, guides, and challenges students to be industry ready and have hands on skills on software development. With this collaboration IBM, by its Academic Initiative programme, will provide relevant IBM Software free of cost that will be used for training and enablement purposes for students and faculty of various Engineering colleges in Kerala. Commenting on the collaboration with IBM,Sijo Kuruvilla George, CEO, Startup Village said there are several talented youngsters in the engineering colleges, but are left handicapped without the latest technology solutions. The IBM support will definitely ignite their innovative talent and thereby enhance the human capital which a prime mover in any eco-system, he said. IBM Career Education Program is a comprehensive software education programme designed by IT professionals,for graduates and experienced professionals to accelerate their skills and knowledge so that they succeed in the industry.