India Establishes Three AI Centres of Excellence Focused on Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities

New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at bolstering India’s role in the global AI landscape, Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, announced the establishment of three AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in the fields of Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities. These centres, unveiled in New Delhi today, will be led by premier institutions including AIIMS, IIT Delhi, IIT Ropar, and IIT Kanpur.

The event was attended by several distinguished figures, including K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Sridhar Vembu, Co-chair of the Apex Committee and Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum, and industry leaders such as Rajan Anandan of PeakXV Partners and Surge, and Srikanth Nadhamuni, CEO of Khosla Labs.

During the ceremony, Pradhan praised the AI-CoEs for their potential to act as “temples of global public good.” He highlighted that these centres will cement India’s credentials in the global AI space and provide solutions to some of the world’s pressing challenges. “With the talent and zeal Bharat is blessed with, these CoEs will play a critical role in shaping global public policy and becoming solution providers for the world,” he added.

The establishment of these CoEs is part of the government’s broader vision to position India as a global hub for artificial intelligence. With a total financial outlay of Rs. 990 crore, the project, announced under Para 60 of the 2023-24 Union Budget, aims to develop an effective AI ecosystem in the country over the next four years.

K. Sanjay Murthy emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary research, stressing that collaboration between academic institutions, industry, and start-ups will be key to addressing national challenges. He further noted that these centres are designed to serve the entire country and not just individual institutions.

Dr. Sridhar Vembu, in his address, outlined the long-term benefits of these CoEs, which will help improve the health and livelihoods of citizens across rural and urban areas. He emphasized the importance of nurturing talent and creating opportunities for India’s workforce in the AI-driven future.

The event also featured a short film on the theme, “Make AI in India and Make AI work for India,” underscoring the nation’s push towards leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance its global standing.

The AI-CoEs will conduct interdisciplinary research, develop cutting-edge applications, and create scalable solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities. These centres will also support India’s start-up ecosystem, creating new job opportunities and fostering innovation.