IIT Kharagpur innovation hub on AI ML to translate research to industrially scalable products

    Kolkata, Nov 25 (PTI) IIT Kharagpur has set up a
technology innovation hub on artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine learning (ML) to translate academic research to
industrially scalable products and processes, a spokesperson
    The institute recently set up a special purpose
vehicle, the IIT Kharagpur AI4ICPS I Hub Foundation (the
Technology Innovation Hub on Artificial Intelligence and
Machine Learning) for translation of academic research at the
'proof of concept level' to 'industrially scalable products
and processes', focussed on AI interventions, the spokesperson
said on Tuesday.
    "While research has been happening in AI and ML for
decades, mostly limited to software with limited inclusion in
consumer goods and daily used gadgets, graduating innovation
to technology readiness for industrial production is crucial,"
Principal Investigator Dr Debdoot Sheet, who is also Assistant
Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering and
the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence said.
    "The Hub is envisioned to be a unique establishment in
the country to undertake a diverse spectrum of activities
linking academic research to the industry through an inclusive
co-working partnership," he added.
    The institute received a grant of Rs 170 crore from
the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
under the NM-ICPS to set up the infrastructure and undertake
the related research and training programmes.
    "We are also committed to promote fundamental research
and foster the creation of start-ups to scale production for
their off-shelf market availability," Sheet said.
    The hub will further develop critical infrastructure
for the nation, an AI Cloud for CPS, a National Knowledge
Portal for training human resources on the future-ready AI
technology for CPS.
    "Tractors and farm machines, 3D printing technology,
structural health and road traffic, wastewater engineering,
energy-efficient buildings, next-gen wireless communication,
human physiology and in-silico disease models are to name a
few of the 32 technologies to be developed at the hub," said
Dr Ashish Ranjan Hota, Assistant Professor in the Department
of Electrical Engineering.
    The R&D work will span over core research in
algorithms, methods, enabling technologies like machine
vision, speech, natural language processing (NLP), text
analytics, technology for the internet of things (IoT), and
application of AI and ML technologies in a diverse range of
industry verticals including healthcare, precision
    "IIT Kharagpur is a pioneer in AI education and
research with more than a hundred faculty members working in
theory and methods of AI and its applications across various
    "This hub will create a multidimensional ecosystem to
foster innovation and commercialisation of AI&ML interventions
to ICPS spanning across several sectors along with
facilitation of new knowledge creation, upskilling human
resources, entrepreneurship and job creation," said Director,
Prof Virendra K Tewari.
    Along with Dr Sheet are Prof Surjya Pal, Prof Sudeshna
Sarkar, Dr Ashish Ranjan Hota, Dr Rajendra Machavaram and
over 80 faculty members from diverse disciplines of the
institute in driving the hub's establishment.
    Their R&D work will have close collaboration with over
50 companies and PSUs who are engaging early on, scouting for
potential technologies, the spokesperson said.
    Research collaborations are also being discussed with
over 30 global research partners towards furthering the
objective of an unifying effort to converge the world in
building AI for industries of the future across sectors
ranging from agriculture to heavy machinery. PTI SUS
