Persistent Systems Partners With IIT Kharagpur to Set Up AI Innovation Lab

Persistent Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT Kharagpur to set up an AI Innovation Lab at the institute’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

The initiative is part of Persistent’s broader AI-first strategy and aims to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia while building talent for large-scale AI adoption.

The lab will focus on advancing research and applied development in areas such as healthcare analytics, education technology and financial intelligence. It will also be equipped with computational and laboratory infrastructure to support both teaching and real-world AI deployment.

According to the company, the goal is to move beyond experimentation and develop AI systems that are scalable, safe and aligned with real-world needs. The lab will bring together research, engineering and deployment, enabling students and researchers to work on practical challenges alongside academic work.

“The initiative is aimed at building strong foundations in research and engineering while addressing India-specific challenges,” Anand Deshpande, Founder and Managing Director of Persistent Systems, said. “The lab is part of efforts to prepare students for the growing demands of the AI-driven economy.”

Faculty members at IIT Kharagpur highlighted the importance of such collaborations in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements. They noted that exposure to real-world problems and engineering practices can help students build more relevant and impactful solutions.

The lab is also expected to serve as a hub for knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration among academia, industry and policy stakeholders. In addition to research and training, it will help build reusable AI frameworks, domain expertise and talent pipelines.