In a significant step to advance artificial intelligence in India, Meta and IndiaAI, an independent business unit under the Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), announced a partnership to drive research, innovation, and skill development in AI.
This collaboration aims to foster breakthroughs in AI and emerging technologies, establish a Generative AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IIT Jodhpur, and launch the “YuvaAI” skilling initiative in partnership with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Meta has committed up to Rs 750 lakhs in funding over three years to establish the Generative AI Center of Excellence, Srijan, at IIT Jodhpur. This CoE will focus on addressing national challenges in healthcare, mobility, and education while contributing to global advancements in Generative AI. IIT Jodhpur will lead this centre with academic and research staff and will collaborate with institutions like Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS Jodhpur, and IHBAS Delhi to explore AI solutions across sectors. Srijan is expected to nurture the startup ecosystem of AI & Emerging Technologies, enhance accessibility to AI resources, and foster collaboration through workshops, seminars, and similar platforms.
Key goals include fostering an indigenous research ecosystem, promoting open science innovation, and transferring technology solutions to address real-world problems. Prof Mayank Vatsa of IIT Jodhpur remarked: “Srijan, meaning ‘Creation,’ will be a leading center for Foundation Models and Generative AI research in India whose goal is to drive innovation in AI technology while ensuring ethical and responsible use. With support from Meta and MeitY, Srijan aligns with the IndiaAI mission to strengthen the country’s AI ecosystem.”
In alignment with the AICTE and under the YuvaAI initiative, Meta and IndiaAI launched the “AI for Skilling and Capacity Building” project to equip 100,000 youth aged 18-30 with skills in AI and large language models (LLMs). The initiative aims to nurture AI talent, promote AI innovation and entrepreneurship, and support India’s $5 trillion economic goal.
The project will include a Gen AI Resource Hub on the IndiaAI website, a “LLM for Young Developers” course, and hackathons to promote open-source AI model applications. Additionally, it will support 10 startups from young developers through the AI Innovation Accelerator, offering incubation, mentoring, and grants. “By emphasizing open-source AI, Meta is committed to nurturing an ecosystem where indigenous solutions can flourish,” said Shivnath Thukral, Meta India’s Head of Public Policy.
Secretary of MeitY, S Krishnan, highlighted the significance of this partnership, saying, “These initiatives are pivotal in creating a robust ecosystem for groundbreaking research, skill development, and open-source innovation, advancing AI technology while ensuring its responsible and ethical deployment.”
This collaboration reinforces the government’s goal of building a sustainable AI ecosystem through partnerships with industry leaders. “Our collaboration with industry leaders like Meta is vital to realizing this vision. By fostering a culture of open-source innovation in AI, advancing research, and skill development in emerging technologies, we are bridging the talent gap and ensuring that our youth are equipped to lead in the AI revolution,” said Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY.
As part of this multi-faceted initiative, IIT Jodhpur is tasked with ensuring long-term sustainability for the CoE and devising strategies for ongoing revenue, partnerships, and innovation. The project will be monitored annually by a joint committee from MeitY and Meta to ensure consistent progress. This collaboration promises to position India as a leader in AI and an innovator in responsible development, with Srijan and YuvaAI expected to contribute meaningfully to India’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.
