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Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar ((IIT- Bhubaneswar) has launched a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing Research Centre (AHRC) to conduct interdisciplinary and collaborative research.
The AHRC is conceptualised as a National Research Centre and will foster collaboration with other eminent academic, industry, and government research organisations in India and internationally. It will bring together scientists and academicians from diverse disciplines, including engineering, computer science, medicine, agriculture, basic sciences, finance, and economics. Its objective is to address real-world challenges across various domains through the application of AI and HPC in research, innovation, and practical solutions.
It will establish a shared resource and knowledge pool to effectively navigate the rapidly evolving fields of AI and HPC and develop integrated and holistic solutions to challenges encountered by both industry and society. Currently, scientists at AHRC are working on developing AI tools for diagnosing various diseases and conducting rapid screenings for life-threatening conditions in rural communities in Odisha. This collaborative effort includes scientists from All India Institutes of Medical Science (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar and the State University of New York in the United States.
AHRC’s primary research and innovation focus is on the application of AI and HPC in critical areas directly contributing to societal welfare, including medicine, agriculture, environmental sustainability, community development, smart cities, and cybersecurity.
Beyond forging research partnerships with over a dozen universities and industrial laboratories in the United States, AHRC will closely work with esteemed national institutions like the AIIMS, other IITs, as well as universities in Odisha, and the state government of Odisha.
Shreepad Karmalkar, the Director of IIT-Bhubaneswar, is appointed as the Chairman of the AHRC Board. Ashwini Kumar Nanda will assume the role of the founding Centre Director, overseeing AHRC activities.
Speaking about the initiative, Karmalkar stated, “This one-of-a-kind national research centre hosted by IIT-Bhubaneswar will provide a global platform to the researchers from the state and across India for leading-edge research and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence and high-performing computing, which is the need of the hour.”
“The goal of AHRC is to bring global knowhow to serve the people of India, as well as make global technology impact and serve the global community through its world-class research,” Nanda noted. Top of Form
The Indian government aims to tap into the potential of AI, projecting it could contribute US$ 967 billion to the economy in the next decade. According to the Minister of State of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s approach to AI is not just about chasing trends but is rooted in a strong belief and commitment that AI will actively drive the attainment of its one trillion-dollar economy goal. It will also cultivate substantial capabilities within the startup and research ecosystem, focusing on real-world AI use cases for development.
In October, the IndiaAI report was unveiled, outlining ways to address gaps in the current AI ecosystem, focusing on computing infrastructure, data, AI financing, research, innovation, targeted skilling, and institutional capacity for data.
Key recommendations include the establishment of AI centres of excellence, the introduction of the India Datasets Platform with an open-source architecture, monetisation of non-personal data, the creation of a non-personal data regulator by setting up the National Data Management Office, and the provision of funding for 725 AI startups.
