IIT, AIIMS to launch Centre of Excellence for AI in healthcare

IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence for AI in Healthcare (AI-CoE).

The AI-CoE will focus on developing AI-based solutions to support key national health programmes in the country. Last year, the two institutes were awarded a grant of Rs 330 crore by the Ministry of Education under the initiative "Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India", following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process. The proposed Centre of Excellence will serve as the executing body for the grant.

The MoU was signed by Prof M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS Delhi, and Prof Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi.

Srinivas expressed his excitement and confidence in the initiative. He said, "This MoU marks the beginning of far-reaching collaborative research that has the potential to change the face of healthcare in the country."

Banerjee said, "A partnership between AIIMS and IIT Delhi has the potential to transform Artificial Intelligence for affordable healthcare. We are delighted to be shaping this national centre of excellence and hope that our output will impact the lives of Indians."

Dr Krithika Rangarajan, chief project manager, who will lead the initiative from AIIMS Delhi, said, "As we venture into this exciting new space, we look forward to guiding the marriage of healthcare with technology. We remain focused on keeping patients at the centre of this effort and hope to build mechanisms that would benefit every citizen of the country."

Prof Chetan Arora, Chief Project Manager, who will lead the AI-CoE from IIT Delhi, said both institutes have a history of strong research collaboration and it is hoped that the AI-CoE will establish a new model of collaboration between healthcare and AI technology research, not just in India, but globally.

"We are excited to be part of this AI-CoE. The CoE will serve as a key research and resource centre at the national and international level and aims to revolutionise the national public health system using indigenously developed AI systems and solutions. Our aim is to develop cutting-edge AI solutions to upscale health services, upskill our healthcare providers and improve the accessibility of quality healthcare to remote and marginalised sections of our population," he said.