The Central Government announced the setting up of three Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare, Agriculture and Sustainable Cities.The setting up of AI-CoE was proposed in the Union Budget 2023-24 with a financial outlay of ₹990 crore over the period 2023-24 to 2027-28.The CoE in healthcare will be led by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).The CoE in Agriculture will be headed by IIT, Ropar, Punjab.The CoE on Sustainable Cities will be led by IIT Kanpur.
Centre of Excellence
- A Centre of Excellence (CoE) is a specialized centre that aggregates research, innovation and industry expertise to find solutions to critical challenges in a particular sector. These centres will act as solution providers and prepare a new generation of job providers and wealth creators.
Focus areas of the new AI CoE
- AI applications: Development of cutting-edge AI applications in healthcare, agriculture and urban sustainability.
- Knowledge exchange: Enhancing collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia, industry and startups.
- Skill development: Training professionals and students to develop skills required to become future AI leaders.
Impact on India’s startup ecosystem
- Access to research and technology: Startups will get access to advanced AI research, experimental labs, data and technical platforms.
- Collaboration opportunities: Startups will benefit from collaboration with academic institutions and industry experts, thereby enhancing knowledge exchange and collaborative development.
Importance
- Healthcare: AI-based diagnostics and predictive analytics will improve patient care and public health management.
- Agriculture: AI-powered tools will help increase crop yields, reduce wastage, and improve supply chain efficiency.
- Sustainable cities: These hubs will develop smart transportation, waste management, and energy-efficient urban infrastructure, leading to green urbanisation.