Indian Institute of Technology-Madras has received Rs 110 crore in endowment from its alumnus Sunil Wadhwani to establish an AI centre on campus.
Wadhwani, who is a co-founder of IGATE and Mastech Digital, made the endowment for the establishment of Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, reported Indian Express.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising the commitment was signed on Tuesday by Sunil Wadhwani and Prof V Kamakoti, the Director of IIT Madras.
The school, which will accept students across various streams, will seek to give guidance to the government and policymakers on matters related to data science and AI.
In a statement later, Kamakoti thanked Wadhwani for the funding, and said, "With the advent of Industry 4.0, wherein AI and Data Science are the main movers, the need for a school for Data Science and AI is critical.
He added, "IIT Madras has started this highly interdisciplinary school involving faculty from many departments joining hands to work on niche areas, including Responsible AI."
The upcoming school is set to provide a comprehensive range of programmes, including B.Tech, M.Tech, MS, & PhD programmes in AI and data science.
Â
The school will also offer a Joint MSc programme in data science and AI in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, UK.
Â
Wadhwani, whose contributions in the field of AI led to his inclusion in the TIME100 AI list of 2023, expressed his love for AI and the need for a dedicated centre focussing on it in the country.
Â
"AI and social impact are close to my heart, and it's my honour to be contributing to my alma mater. I see a strong need for a dedicated Data Science and AI school focusing on foundational and applied research in these areas.
Â
"With the advancements in science and technology, India holds immense potential and can be a world leader in AI and allied sciences. As a proud alumnus, IIT Madras holds a special place in my life, and I am gratified to be associated with them in this manner," he said on the occasion.
Â
Â
Commentaires