Ministry of Education, through CPMU, IIT Jammu Invites Call for Proposals for AI Centres of Excellence

The Ministry of Education (MoE) invites proposals from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked within the top 100 in the overall category by NIRF in 2023. This call is specifically for the selection of 15 consortia, with each eligible for an initial funding of upto INR 2 crores. Lead HEIs, representing the top educational institutions, are invited to present a Proof of Concept (POC) for the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing on high impact sectors such as Agriculture, Health, or Sustainable Cities.

The Government of India, vide budget announcement 2023-24, has approved a total financial outlay of INR 990.00 crores for the establishment of three CoEs in AI over a five-year period, from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28. The intended focus sectors for these CoEs are Agriculture, Health, and Sustainable Cities, aiming to foster interdisciplinary research and scalable solutions in these critical areas. Under this initiative, 15 consortia, each led by a top HEI, will receive an initial funding of INR 2 crores to develop Proof of Concepts (POCs).

The overall project will unfold in two phases: Phase 1 includes proposal submissions, POC presentations, and the final selection of three proposals; and Phase 2 encompasses the execution of solutions at scale, periodic project reviews, and monitoring.

The expected outcomes of the CoEs are aligned with achieving measurable societal impacts, with indicators such as increased crop yield and reduced wastage in Agriculture, improved healthcare outcomes in Health, and advancements in energy reduction and pollution control in Sustainable Cities.

An empowered Apex Committee, a Central Project Management Unit (CPMU), and CoE-wise Project Review and Monitoring Committees (PRMCs) shall oversee various aspects of the project. Lead HEIs, interested in submitting proposals, are encouraged to focus on societal impact, industry contributions, collaborations, and addressing national priorities.

In Phase 2, the top three selected proposals can receive approximately up to INR 310 crores each in funding. The CoEs are expected to generate an Endowment Fund of INR 100 crores for post-project sustainability. Detailed guidelines and submission details are available on the AI CoE portal: [https://iitjammu.ac.in/aicpmu].