IBM is ready to make its way back to India in the technology realm. It has forged three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Indian government, focusing on AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing. The aim behind these strategic collaborations is to expedite research and development (R&D) efforts in India and enhance the workforce’s expertise in these key domains.

IBM, in partnership with Digital India Corporation, is set to establish a National AI Innovation Platform (AIIP) with a primary focus on AI skill development, fostering ecosystem growth, and incorporating advanced foundational models and generative AI capabilities. 

Read: IBM Should Help India in its AI Mission

The AIIP will serve as an accelerator, nurturing competencies in AI technologies and their applications for nationally significant use cases. It will also gain access to IBM’s WatsonX platform capabilities, including the utilisation of models in language, code, and geospatial science to facilitate model training for various domains.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of State for Electronics and IT, emphasised the significance of these technological areas, stating, “These are technologies that will shape the future of tech. The MoUs represent tremendous opportunities for academia, startups, innovation ecosystems, and the broader opportunity of creating global standard talent.”

Additionally, IBM will act as a knowledge partner for the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in the establishment of a semiconductor research centre. This strategic collaboration will see IBM sharing its expertise with ISM in the domains of intellectual property, tools, and skills development, all aimed at fostering innovation in semiconductor technologies, including logic, advanced packaging, and chip design technologies.

The Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is also exploring opportunities for collaboration, particularly in supporting India’s National Quantum Mission. Their joint efforts will focus on creating applications in areas of national interest and cultivating a highly skilled quantum workforce.

Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India & South Asia, expressed his commitment to these initiatives, stating, “This collaboration reinforces our commitment to be the trusted partner for India in enhancing its innovation capabilities. Supporting the government’s efforts in building infrastructure, enhancing human capital, and promoting knowledge creation in these three technological areas is integral to India’s digital transformation and economic growth.”

Recently, IBM has also announced an initiative to train a whopping two million learners in artificial intelligence by the end of 2026. The main objective of this step is to focus on underrepresented communities and help close the global AI skills gap.