IIT-Bombay, Columbia Team Up to Build AI Backbone for Indian Manufacturing
The partnership aims to build open, interoperable AI infrastructure for sectors including semiconductors, pharma, automation, and logistics.
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The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay and Columbia University have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Columbia-IIT Bombay Center of AI for Manufacturing, deepening India-US collaboration in industrial AI.
The center will focus on building practical AI tools for manufacturing and is the fourth AI center backed by the Ministry of Education.
IIT-Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare said the initiative is intended to strengthen India’s manufacturing ecosystem by developing open, interoperable AI infrastructure grounded in shop-floor realities.
He said the center would support industry modernization, micro, small and medium enterprises, startups, and talent development.
“The Columbia-IIT-Bombay Center of AI for Manufacturing is a significant step in strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem through advanced, human-centric AI. It reflects our commitment to nation-building, positioning India as a global leader in AI-driven manufacturing innovation,” Kedare said.
The scope of the Center spans sectors critical to India’s industrial base, including semiconductors, robotics and automation, pharmaceuticals, food processing, refining and petrochemicals, construction, and logistics.
The partnership combines Columbia’s strengths in foundational AI, computing, and optimization with IIT-Bombay’s expertise in manufacturing and process engineering.
A central focus will be addressing deployment bottlenecks such as legacy equipment, fragmented data, real-time constraints, and multilingual workforces that often slow AI adoption in Indian factories.
Beyond research, the Center plans to engage closely with industry partners on applied research, customized AI solutions for manufacturing enterprises, talent development, and startup translation.
Importantly, foundational datasets, models, and interfaces developed through the initiative are expected to be released as public goods.
The MoU was signed and exchanged at a formal ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan and government officials.
