MeitY Joins Hands With IBM To Accelerate Innovation In AI, Semiconductor & Quantum Tech

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with tech giant IBM to accelerate innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor and quantum technology.

IBM signed the MoUs with three separate entities of the ministry – Digital India, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). 

Under this, the tech giant will work with the three bodies to ramp up research and development (R&D) efforts, accelerate India’s efforts to attain self-reliance in the area of semiconductors, and advance national strategies and missions on AI and quantum technology.

The pacts will help MeitY access IBM’s expertise and resource base in these areas and scale up its growth initiatives in the three burgeoning industries. The two will also work on skill development and engaging industry stakeholders to further fuel the growth of three ecosystems. 

“… Congratulations to IBM, and thank you for your partnership with the Ministry. I am glad that in such a short time the Ministry, IBM and the Government of India have come together and have entered into these MoUs that are certainly part of PM Modi’s vision,” said Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and IT Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Commenting on the collaboration, managing director for IBM India and South Asia Sandip Patel said, “This collaboration reinforces our commitment to be the trusted partner for India in enhancing its innovation capabilities. Supporting the government’s efforts in building infrastructure, enhancing human capital and knowledge creation in these three areas of technology will be integral to India’s digital transformation and economic growth.”

IBM’s Tech Trinity Focus

In a statement, IBM said Digital India will collaborate with it to establish a national AI Innovation Platform (AIIP). The platform will be focussed on imparting AI-related skills to youngsters and the development of the AI ecosystem in the country. 

Besides, the AIIP will also be focussed on integrating advanced foundation models and generative AI capabilities to support India’s ‘scientific, commercial, and human-capital development’ in the AI space. In addition, the platform also aims to serve as an accelerator for incubating AI technologies and applications for use cases of national importance. 

In addition, IBM will be a knowledge partner for a semiconductor research centre under the India Semiconductor Mission. Under this, the tech major will share its expertise with the mission on aspects such as intellectual property, tools and skills development to promote innovation in various areas related to semiconductor technology. This would encompass fields such as logic, advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, and advanced chip design technologies.

Under the third MoU, IBM and C-DAC will together explore collaboration opportunities to advance the Centre’s ambitious ‘National Quantum Mission’. The two sides will work to build competencies in quantum computing technology and impart training to create a skilled talent pool in quantum technology. The collaboration will also centre around workforce enablement, fostering startups, building applications in areas of national interest, R&D and scaling up quantum services and allied infrastructure.

In addition, IBM will lend support to MeitY and National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) for the upskilling initiative, FutureSkills program. The tech major will also partner with startups selected under design linked incentive scheme, futureDESIGN, to spur semiconductor platforms linked to AI and quantum technology. 

The collaboration comes at a time when the ministry has been encouraging the Indian private sector and global big tech giants to support key government initiatives and lend support to startups. In the past, giants such as Google, Meta, HCL, Infosys have partnered with MeitY for various initiatives. 

The MoUs with IBM come four months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US and signed multiple partnerships with US President Joe Biden. Among the key takeaways of the visit were MoUs on semiconductor supply chain and innovation, quantum technology and advancement of AI.