Visakhapatnam: In a major step towards advancing the IndiaAI Mission and expanding the nation’s Digital Public Infrastructure, the TechBharat Research Foundation has announced a collaboration with Google Cloud India to establish India’s first AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Public Good.
The centre, set up in Visakhapatnam, aims to create AI-driven solutions for public sector challenges by partnering with government bodies, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders.
AI for Governance and Public Service Delivery
The AI Centre of Excellence will focus on key sectors including governance, citizen services, disaster response, education, land management, and security. The initiative is positioned to align with India’s goal of promoting responsible and inclusive AI. The centre will act as a hub for developing deployable AI models tailored to real-world use cases faced by government agencies and civic institutions.
AI Fellowship to Build Mission-Driven Talent
A core element of this collaboration is the launch of the TechBharat AI Fellowship, a national program designed to nurture AI professionals who can directly contribute to public sector innovation.
Key Features of the Fellowship:
- A 120-day immersive on-site residency in Visakhapatnam
- Three cohorts annually with over 80 fellows and 100+ interns trained each year
- Monthly stipend and accommodation provided
- Direct collaboration with government departments to design and field-test AI prototypes
- Participation in National AI Hackathons for Public Good starting late 2025
- Access to co-developed AI curriculum and training modules created by TechBharat and Google Cloud
Strategic Collaboration and Infrastructure Support
According to TechBharat Research Foundation, the collaboration reflects India’s growing capacity to lead global initiatives in ethical AI designed for societal benefit. TechBharat and Google Cloud will jointly develop advanced AI services using Google Cloud’s infrastructure and developer training resources.
Google Cloud India will support the centre through the Google for Startups Cloud program, providing infrastructure access, mentorship from domain specialists, and opportunities to explore deployment and scaling strategies. The partnership aims to create an ecosystem of innovation where AI prototypes can evolve into scalable public service solutions.
First Cohort Kicks Off in October 2025
The first batch of fellows will begin work in October 2025 with problem statements sourced from departments including Disaster Management, Industries & Commerce, Education, Citizen Services, and Real-Time Governance. Future cohorts will build on the outcomes of these early deployments to expand responsible AI adoption across public systems and share learnings on global platforms.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in positioning India as a leader in AI for public impact.
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