The launch of Srijan, a pioneering Center for Generative AI at IIT Jodhpur, in collaboration with Meta and IndiaAI, marks a significant advancement in India’s AI ecosystem. Paired with the “YuvAI Initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building,” developed in partnership with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), these programs aim to transform open-source AI in India. Together, they target skill development, research acceleration, and nurturing indigenous talent capable of addressing national challenges using generative AI.

Srijan’s core mission is to empower emerging AI innovators and entrepreneurs, mainly through large language models (LLMs). Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, highlighted that this partnership will establish a "robust ecosystem for groundbreaking research, skill development, and open-source innovation,” reflecting the government’s commitment to responsible, ethical AI development. Meta’s INR 750 lakh investment will support research that promotes social impact across healthcare, education, and mobility, bridging India's AI talent gap and positioning the country as a leader in generative AI.

Under this initiative, Srijan will catalyze practical AI application development by engaging young developers nationwide through hackathons, skill-building workshops, and industry collaborations. By integrating open-source AI frameworks and generative models into hands-on training, hackathons, and knowledge-sharing events, Srijan will stimulate innovative AI applications and help launch AI-focused startups led by students. This initiative will foster real-world problem-solving skills and drive societal impact while supporting India’s goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by fostering technological advancements and creating economic opportunities.

In tandem, the YuvAI initiative will scale AI talent by training over 100,000 youth and developers in foundational LLM skills over three years. It is an effort to enhance India’s technical workforce and a strategic move to shape the global AI landscape with a distinct focus on open-source solutions. The program includes launching a Gen AI Resource Hub offering courses, case studies, datasets, hackathons, and accelerator programs to support student-led startups. Master Training Activation Workshops across colleges, ITIs, and data labs will facilitate hands-on learning, promoting grassroots AI innovation across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and smart cities.

The partnership reflects a new era of cross-sectoral collaboration, with government, industry, and academia coming together to secure India’s position at the forefront of AI. The centre is projected to nurture 1 lakh AI-skilled youth developers over three years, creating pathways to sustainable AI solutions in critical sectors. Meta’s Shivnath Thukral expressed that this initiative aligns seamlessly with India's AI mission, empowering the next generation to pioneer AI advancements for India's social and economic benefit.

Srijan will further the country’s ambitions in generative AI through collaborative efforts with institutions such as PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS Jodhpur, and IHBAS Delhi, fostering a network of innovation and knowledge-sharing. This ecosystem will be crucial to advancing India's AI capabilities, ensuring the growth of technical expertise and the development of AI policies and ethical guidelines for responsible usage.

Through the combined force of IndiaAI, Meta, IIT Jodhpur, and AICTE, this initiative underscores India's commitment to a sustainable, equitable AI future and positions it as a key player in the global AI landscape.

Source: PIB