IndiaAI and Meta have announced the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Srijan (सृजन) at IIT Jodhpur, along with the launch of the “YuvAi Initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building” in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), for the advancement of open source artificial intelligence (AI) in India. The partnership will enable development of indigenous AI applications, advance skill development in AI, boost research capabilities with the aim of contributing to India’s AI mission of ensuring tech sovereignty and the vision of building AI solutions that are tailor made for India.

Center for Generative AI, Srijan (सृजन) at IIT Jodhpur

As part of this collaboration, Meta will support the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Srijan, (सृजन) (“GenAI CoE”) at IIT Jodhpur. This GenAI CoE aims to advance research and development in AI while fostering the growth of responsible and ethical AI technologies in India. It will support and enhance open science innovation across the AI technology landscape.

Through education, capacity building, and policy advisory, the center will be empowering the next generation of researchers, students, and practitioners with the knowledge and tools necessary for the responsible development and deployment of GenAI technologies.

Empowering India’s AI Future

Highlighting the power of collaborative innovation, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), emphasized the significance of the partnership between IndiaAI, IIT Jodhpur, AICTE and Meta. He said "These initiatives are pivotal in creating a robust ecosystem for groundbreaking research, skill development, and open-source innovation, advancing AI technology while ensuring its responsible and ethical deployment." The initiative will support India's ambitious goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by equipping the nation's youth to lead in the global AI arena, securing India's position as a leader in technological advancement and economic growth..

Collaboration to drive AI Innovation and Skill Development

Commenting on the partnership, Sh. Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY said, “The Indian government is supporting the vision of AI innovation, skilling, and technological advancement to drive inclusive growth under the IndiaAI initiative. Our collaboration with industry leaders like Meta is vital to realizing this vision.”. He also mentioned that by fostering a culture of open source innovation in AI, advancing research and skill development in emerging technologies, we are bridging the talent gap and ensuring that our youth are equipped to lead in the AI revolution, ultimately securing India’s position as a global leader in responsible development and contributing to a robust AI ecosystem.

On this occasion, Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy, Meta India said, “By emphasizing the importance of open-source AI, Meta is committed to nurturing an ecosystem where indigenous solutions can flourish. Today’s partnership is testament to our deep commitment to furthering the advancement of emerging technologies in India, while aligning seamlessly with IndiaAI mission. These initiatives will empower the next generation of innovators and equip them with the tools to address pressing real-world challenges, ultimately propelling India to be at the forefront of global AI advancements.”

Bridging AI talent gap through “AI for Skilling and Capacity Building" initiative

Meta, in collaboration with MeitY and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), also launched the “YuvAi initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building" . This program aims to bridge the AI talent gap in the country by empowering 100,000 students and young developers aged 18-30 to leverage open-source large language models (LLMs) to address real-world challenges.

It aims to build capacity in generative AI skills, utilizing open-source LLMs while fostering AI innovation across key sectors. Over the next three years, the initiative will train one lakh youth, developers, and entrepreneurs, contributing significantly to India’s AI ecosystem across critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, and financial inclusion.

This will include the establishment of a Gen AI Resource Hub with courses, case studies, and open datasets; an LLM for Young Developers Course designed by Meta; and Master Training Activation Workshops to introduce participants to foundational AI concepts. The program also features Unleash LLM Hackathons, where students will submit AI solutions to address real-world problems, with top ideas receiving mentoring, seed grants, and market support. Additionally, the AI Innovation Accelerator will identify and support 10 student-led startups experimenting with open-source AI models, offering incubation and visibility​.

Commenting on the partnership, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, mentioned that the skilling initiative represents a pivotal step in realizing India's AI potential as it is mobilizing institutions nationwide and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government, to create a robust ecosystem for AI innovation. “By focusing on open-source AI models and fostering innovation and development of indigenous solutions through hackathons, we are not just building skills, we are catalyzing a revolution in how India develops and applies AI technology”, he added.

Srijan: Leading center for Foundation Models and GenAI research

Dr. Mayank Vatsa, Professor at IIT Jodhpur, stated that Srijan, meaning creation, will be a leading center for Foundation Models and Generative AI research in India, focusing on innovation with ethical and responsible use. Supported by Meta and MeitY, it aligns with the IndiaAI mission to strengthen the AI ecosystem through groundbreaking research and collaborations across industry, government, and academia. He also mentioned that the center aims to address key national challenges in education, mobility, and healthcare using open-source AI, while fostering talent, promoting open science, and contributing to AI policy and standards development in India.

Last year, Meta partnered with ‘India AI’ to advance AI & Emerging Technologies in India.  Further, Meta also partnered with the Ministry of Education to empower students and educators via programs with CBSE and AICTE.

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Dharmendra Tewari/Kshitij Singha