Indian Institute of Technology Madras has partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to launch a web-enabled, user-oriented programme on “Industrial AI” that is targeted at upskilling employees incorporates the applications of AI to industrial problems.  

The 18-month-long course, designed in consultation with TCS, will be offered by IIT M in a completely online live teaching mode through virtual classrooms. 

The first cohort of students for the program will be from TCS.  

“This program, designed in consultation with TCS, will have strong theoretical courses and labs covering important topics in data science and AI. Theoretical courses will cover concepts in fundamental mathematical techniques required for understanding data science algorithms, time series analysis, multivariate Data Analysis, machine learning, deep learning and reinforcement learning,” said Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras.

“Applied courses will describe implementations of AI solutions for industrial problems in a case study format. Put together, these courses are expected to provide a strong theoretical foundation and significant application perspective to the participants in the course,” he added.

As per the college, the key outcomes/benefits envisaged from the M.Tech in Industrial AI Include: 

• Upskilling of the Indian workforce 
• Improving the knowledge ecosystem critical for AI adoption 
• Translation of AI theory to practice 
• Industrial solutions that are sustainable  
• Development of AI theory and pedagogical methods for AI training informed by an application perspective 

Speaking about this collaboration, K Ananth Krishnan, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, TCS, said, “TCS Research partners with premier academic institutes to explore emerging technologies with scientific rigour as they gain mainstream adoption. We are happy to collaborate with IIT-Madras, a member of the TCS Academic Co-Innovation Network, to create a new M Tech program in Industrial AI for working professionals so that they gain a deeper understanding of data science and AI which they can apply to drive innovation in the industry.” 

Each subject will have one mid-term and a final examination conducted in online mode, besides a Project Work. There will be a total of 28-30 Hours of online classes per week. with post-classroom activities, such as assignments, reading, and preparation, likely to take up 20-22 Hours per week.