Infosys Foundation to Provide Grants Worth Rs 24 Cr to IIIT-Delhi for Research on Artificial Intelligence

To Establish Infosys Center for Artificial Intelligence that will facilitate work on both fundamental and applied aspects of AI

IndiaCSR News Network

NEW DELHI: Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, today announced that it will provide a corpus grant worth Rupees 24 crore over the next three years to the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Delhi to establish the Infosys Center for Artificial Intelligence in its Okhla campus.

The center will initially be headed by Dr. Srikanth Saripalli, an expert in robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), currently spending his sabbatical at IIIT-Delhi. The center will facilitate work on both fundamental and applied aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and focus on areas such as, robotics, machine learning, computer vision, AI for software systems, large-scale data analytics, etc. Several faculty members of IIIT-Delhi will be associated with the center, and research will be conducted by PhD scholars, post-docs, students, and visiting researchers.

Key highlights of the Project:

• Research will draw on real-time data to develop a deeper understanding of AI for societal benefits, and the application of AI in education and related areas
• The Infosys Center for Artificial Intelligence will start a specialized MTech course
• IIIT-Delhi will publish research papers, develop tools, and conduct faculty and research development programs in AI and robotics

Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, said, “Research is the backbone of our national scientific advancements – our collective aspiration. Research requires investments in time and effort. The objective of the Infosys Center for Artificial Intelligence is to facilitate research in Artificial Intelligence that will greatly benefit our society.”

“The team, led by Dr. Saripalli, comprises some of the most skilled research experts. Our endeavor is to facilitate the creative exchange of ideas in collaboration with IIIT-Delhi and the government. We will also provide training opportunities for students and teachers in AI and robotics.”, she added.

Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer, Infosys said, “Infosys is a firm believer that the future will be transformed by automation and artificial intelligence. The Infosys Centre for Artificial Intelligence at IIIT-D will provide students and faculty an environment that encourages research in AI and related areas, providing an opportunity to work in the realm of truly transformational technologies.”

“This contribution by the Infosys Foundation is a continuation of its efforts to encourage education and research in India and we look forward to sharing and exchanging knowledge with the members of this lab.” he further added.

Dr. Srikanth Saripalli, Head, Infosys Center for Artificial Intelligence said, “We are delighted to have set up the Center for Artificial Intelligence with support from Infosys. We will work closely with Infosys and the government to develop and deploy more intelligent tools and technologies.”

“With autonomous cars, Internet of Things and big data gaining momentum, AI will play an important role in everyday life. IIIT-Delhi is at the forefront of this revolution and will take the lead in this endeavor. We are grateful to Infosys for their support.”, Dr. Saripalli said.

Dr. Pankaj Jalote, Director, IIIT-Delhi, said on development, “We are delighted that the Infosys Foundation has agreed to provide us with a generous grant to establish the Infosys Center for Artificial Intelligence. Collaboration between academia and industry needs to be strengthened in India, especially when there is a pressing need for innovation and R&D. Infosys, by supporting this research center, has created a model for industry-academia research engagement. We are very grateful to the Infosys Foundation for their generous support.”

Established in 1996, the Infosys Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Infosys and has the sole objective of fulfilling the social responsibility of the company by creating opportunities and working toward a more equitable society. The Infosys Foundation has made effective strides in the areas of healthcare, education, social rehabilitation, and the arts. The company contributes two percent of its profits averaged over the past three years to the Foundation each year.

Established in 2008, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (aka. IIIT-Delhi or IIIT-D) was created as a state university by an Act of Delhi Government (The IIIT Delhi Act, 2007) empowering it to do research and development and grant degrees. Since then, the institute has grown from strength to strength to be recognized as one of the most promising young institutions for IT education and research in India.

IIIT-Delhi has been instrumental in shaping well trained Information Technology professionals through its research-focused and industry-oriented programs. Governed by the able leadership of a distinguished Board of Governors and equipped with highly qualified and accomplished faculty members, the institute has, in a short span of time, established a strong research culture, focused research groups, and innovative education programs.

The institute is accredited ‘A’ grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and has been accorded 12-B status by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

URLs: 

Infosys Foundation: https://www.infosys.com/infosys-foundation/

Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi: https://www.iiitd.ac.in

Sudha Murty: https://www.infosys.com/infosys-foundation/about/trustees/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Infosys

Dr Pankaj Jalota: https://www.iiitd.edu.in/~jalote/