Three AI Centres of Excellence in Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities
Context:
Recently, the Centre has announced the establishment of three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in key sectors: healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities.
- These CoEs are expected to drive innovation, research, and job creation in their respective fields, in collaboration with industries and start-ups.
Details of the Centres of Excellence (CoEs):
- The CoE in healthcare will be led by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. It will focus on applying AI to enhance healthcare delivery, medical research, and patient care, aiming to provide cutting-edge solutions for India’s healthcare system.
- The IIT Ropar in Punjab has been chosen to lead the CoE focused on agriculture. This centre will leverage AI to address challenges in Indian agriculture, such as precision farming, crop management, and sustainable agricultural practices, thus improving productivity and efficiency.
The IIT Kanpur has been tasked with developing the CoE in sustainable cities. This centre will explore AI-driven solutions for urban development, focusing on sustainability, smart city infrastructure, and efficient resource management to make Indian cities more livable and environmentally friendly.
Objective and Significance:
- The AI-CoEs aim to serve as solution providers in their respective fields, creating job opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship.
- The Union Budget for 2023-24 had allocated ₹990 crore for these CoEs over a five-year period (2023-28). To ensure effective implementation, an apex committee with significant industry representation has been set up, co-chaired by Zoho’s founder-CEO, Sridhar Vembu.
Conclusion:
The establishment of these AI-CoEs marks a significant step in India’s journey toward becoming a global leader in AI technology. With a strong focus on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable urban development, the CoEs are poised to deliver innovative solutions, create job opportunities, and promote multidisciplinary research, ultimately contributing to the nation’s growth and development in the AI space.