Cognizant Expands 20-Year Partnership with Novartis for AI-Enabled Global IT Operations Transformation
Key Insights
Cognizant (search) has been selected by Novartis for a five-year, AI-enabled integrated IT operations engagement, expanding a strategic relationship spanning more than two decades.
The agreement will consolidate applications, infrastructure, security, digital workplace, and platform services into a unified operating model powered by AI, automation, and agentic capabilities.
Cognizant (search)'s Neuro AI platform will support predictive operations, autonomous self-service, AI-led software engineering, and full-stack observability across Novartis' global technology environment.
Cognizant (search) has been selected by Novartis for a five-year, AI-enabled integrated IT operations engagement, the companies announced on July 27, 2026. The agreement significantly expands a strategic relationship that has spanned more than two decades, positioning Cognizant to transform how the global pharmaceutical giant manages its technology infrastructure through artificial intelligence and automation.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cognizant (search) will consolidate applications, infrastructure, security, digital workplace, and platform services into a unified, end-to-end operating model powered by AI, automation, and agentic capabilities. This consolidation replaces what had been a fragmented service delivery approach with an integrated system designed for the evolving demands of pharmaceutical operations.
AI-Driven Operating Model
Cognizant (search) will deploy its engineering-led AI Builder approach, including the Cognizant Neuro AI platform, to support predictive and proactive operations across Novartis' global technology environment. The platform will enable autonomous self-service capabilities, AI-led software engineering, and full-stack observability, providing comprehensive visibility into technology performance across the organization.
By replacing fragmented service delivery with an integrated, AI-powered operating model, the engagement is designed to improve efficiency, reduce complexity, improve user experiences, and better align technology performance. The transformation is expected to create a scalable, future-ready technology ecosystem that supports Novartis' continued adoption of AI across its operations.
Industry Context and Strategic Rationale
"The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly evolving toward digitally enabled operations, and that demands high reliability, regulatory compliance, advanced analytics and AI integration on scalable platforms," said Manoj Mehta, President EMEA at Cognizant (search). "We are proud to expand our long-standing partnership with Novartis and support its AI-driven transformation across the value chain."
The engagement reflects a broader trend within the pharmaceutical sector toward digitally enabled operations, where regulatory compliance, advanced analytics, and AI integration on scalable platforms have become essential requirements. For Novartis, the partnership represents a strategic investment in building a technology foundation capable of supporting both current operational needs and future innovation initiatives.
The five-year engagement builds upon more than 20 years of collaboration between the two organizations, underscoring the depth of the relationship and the trust established through decades of joint work in technology services and operations.