New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Columbia University, USA, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Columbia–IIT Bombay Center of AI for Manufacturing, in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The collaboration marks a major step toward advancing AI-driven solutions for India’s manufacturing sector, aligning with the government’s push to strengthen innovation, research, and industrial modernization.
Focus on Human-Centric, Scalable AI
The Ministry of Education has already initiated four AI centers across India. The new joint research and translation center will focus on building robust, scalable, and human-centric AI systems tailored to real-world manufacturing challenges. The initiative aims to develop open and interoperable industrial AI infrastructure capable of addressing complex shop-floor realities such as:
- Legacy equipment integration
- Noisy and unstructured data
- Real-time operational constraints
- Multilingual workforce environments
By combining Columbia University’s expertise in foundational AI and optimization with IIT Bombay’s strengths in manufacturing and process engineering, the Center plans to deliver end-to-end AI solutions.
Strengthening India’s Manufacturing Ecosystem
Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, emphasized the broader national impact of the initiative.
“The Columbia-IIT Bombay Center of AI for Manufacturing is a significant step in strengthening India's manufacturing ecosystem through advanced, human-centric AI. By building open and interoperable industrial AI infrastructure, this initiative will support industry modernization, empower MSMEs, nurture startups, and develop future-ready talent,” he said.
He added that the partnership reflects a strong commitment to nation-building and positions India as a global leader in AI-driven manufacturing innovation.
Key Manufacturing Domains
The Center will address a wide range of sectors, including:
- Semiconductors
- Robotics
- Industrial manufacturing
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food processing
- Refining and petrochemicals
- Construction and infrastructure
- Transport and logistics
Several industry partners are also in discussions to join the initiative, ensuring applied research outcomes translate into practical solutions.
Public Goods and Startup Support
Beyond research, the Center plans to release foundational datasets, AI models, and interfaces as public goods. This move aims to support startups, MSMEs, and large-scale industries alike. The collaboration will also focus on:
- Applied research and customized industry solutions
- Talent development and skill-building programs
- Startup incubation and technology translation
The Columbia–IIT Bombay partnership underscores India’s growing global footprint in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing its ambition to become a leader in next-generation industrial technologies.