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Indian govt facilitates iCreate, Microsoft partnership to boost AI startups
Microsoft and iCreate launched iCreate-Microsoft programme for Emerging Leaders in Artificial Intelligence (iMPEL-AI) program
Representative image / Photo: iStock
India's Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology facilitated a partnership between the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate) and Microsoft to boost artificial intelligence (AI) startups in the country.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the entities in line with the vision set forth by PM Narendra Modi during his meeting with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella last year, according to an official statement.
India is uniquely positioned to seize the extraordinary AI opportunity. The iMPEL-AI innovation program, will nurture a dynamic AI ecosystem in India and enable AI innovators and entrepreneurs to help bridge the nation's AI skill gap and create new possibilities across the… pic.twitter.com/SdK1g0QSBz
— Digital India (@_DigitalIndia) February 22, 2024
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India's Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology, and Jal Shakti, said that the partnership will support and transform AI startups not just in big cities but also in smaller towns and villages.
Presiding over the signing of the agreement, Chandrasekhar noted, “The MoU signing for the partnership between Microsoft and iCreate to launch the IMPEL AI program will catalyze AI startups in India. We believe that partnerships are the way to accelerate the growth of our innovation ecosystem.”
“This partnership will not only be durable but also shape the future of what India and Microsoft aim to achieve with IndiaAI. The Indian innovation ecosystem has reached an inflection point – there has never been a more exciting time than now because growth so far is just the tip of the iceberg,” he added.
The minister also stated, "The next wave of startups will come from emerging technologies like AI, semiconductors, and HPC, shaping the future of tech. Our government is committed to shaping, nurturing, and catalyzing the future of safe and trusted AI.”
Program structure
Microsoft and iCreate launched an iCreate-Microsoft programme for Emerging Leaders in Artificial Intelligence (iMPEL-AI) program. It will screen 1,100 AI innovators across India to become key players in the field with a focus on priority themes of healthcare, financial inclusion, sustainability, education, agriculture, and smart cities.
In the second stage, the program will select and scale a hundred startups across the country to build with Azure OpenAI, and the top 25 will receive go-to-market support from Microsoft’s Global Network to develop advanced, globally competitive products.
In addition, 11,000 innovators, startups, and youngsters from across the country will be provided with AI skilling opportunities through Microsoft’s learning management system. Participants will also receive globally recognized certifications from Microsoft on completion of the program.
Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft's executive vice president and president of National Transformation Partnerships, further explained that the launch of the iMPEL-AI innovation program will nurture a dynamic AI ecosystem in India and enable AI innovators and entrepreneurs to help bridge the nation’s AI skill gap and create new possibilities.
"We are already seeing incredible value from AI innovation in India, from supporting farmers with digital chatbots to transforming economic opportunities for underserved communities through translation tools, and Microsoft is dedicated to being India’s copilot in its AI transformation journey," Courtois emphasized.
Avinash Punekar, chief executive officer of iCreate, said, “Through our partnership with Microsoft, our common vision is to leverage India’s tech strength and put India on a pedestal for driving global innovations in AI. The iMPEL-AI programme is carefully designed to foster AI innovation and product development with access to both mentorship and technology infrastructure that is needed by Indian innovators to build globally successful AI ventures.”
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