The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and IBM have signed three MoUs to advance and accelerate innovation in AI, Semiconductor and quantum technology for India.
IBM has declared the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with three organizations associated with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)- IndiaAI, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C- DAC). This collaborative effort is geared towards expediting India’s holistic national strategy for AI, reinforcing endeavors towards self-reliance in Semiconductors, and promoting its National Quantum Mission.
The envisioned strategies, in which IBM collaborates with IndiaAI, ISM, and C-DAC, aim to prioritize skill development, foster ecosystem engagement, and expedite research and development endeavors in the realms of semiconductors, AI, and quantum technology. These plans are poised to propel and hasten India’s innovation in these critical domains.
Through these MoUs, MeitY will leverage IBM’s expertise to bolster and propel India’s capabilities and expedite its expansion in the AI, semiconductor, and quantum sectors. The initiatives are designed to concentrate on the following areas:
- IBM and IndiaAI
Digital India Corporation intend to collaborate to establish a world-class national AI Innovation Platform (AIIP) for India that will focus on AI skilling, ecosystem development, and integrating advanced foundation models and generative AI capabilities to support India’s scientific, commercial, and human-capital development in this technology.
AIIP will serve as an accelerator for incubation and competency development in AI technologies and their applications for use cases of national importance.
AIIP would have access to relevant capabilities of IBM’s watsonx platform including the ability to use models in language, code and geospatial science with the intent to train models for other domains as needed.
- IBM and India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
IBM would be a knowledge partner of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) for a semiconductor research center.
IBM may share its experience with ISM on intellectual property, tools, initiatives, and skills development, aimed at promoting innovation in semiconductor technologies such as logic, advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, and advanced chip design technologies, using modernized infrastructure.
- IBM and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
This collaboration will also explore opportunities for working together to support the advancement of India’s National Quantum Mission by building competency in quantum computing technology, applications in areas of national interest, and a skilled quantum workforce. Activities would broadly focus on: workforce enablement; development of industries and startups; R&D; and quantum services and infrastructure.
Speaking on the collaboration, Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, ‘Semiconductors, AI, and Quantum, these three technologies will transform the future in the coming years. They represent tremendous opportunities for our academic institutions, startups, and innovation ecosystem. The broader opportunity lies in creating a global standard talent pool in India, capable of taking advantage of the opportunities in quantum computing, AI, and semiconductors.’
‘This collaboration reinforces our commitment to be the trusted partner for India in Enhancing its innovation capabilities. Supporting the government’s efforts in building Infrastructure, enhancing human capital and knowledge creation in these three areas of Technology will be integral to India’s digital transformation and economic growth,’ said Shri Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India & South Asia.
