The Gujarat government has signed memorandums of understanding with software giants IBM and Microsoft and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) to promote the use of Artificial Intelligence technologies in the state. According to the statement, the MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
The statement further added that IBM and the Gujarati government’s Department of Science and Technology entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create and advance an AI cluster in Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City, which will foster innovation and cooperation amongst financial institutions.
The AI Center will focus on key technologies such as machine learning, cognitive, and bot services. The department also signed another MoU with NASSCOM to enhance state AI capabilities.
Chief Minister Patel said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized futuristic technology to propel India towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy”. He added, “Our strategic vision is to keep Gujarat among the top industrial states by promoting futuristic technology such as AI, inspiring a future where Gujarat is a leader in AI innovation.”
Gujarat has emerged as a global gateway to the future. In response to the growing demand for a skilled workforce in emerging industries that leverage advanced technologies, the state government has launched the Up Skilling Industry Ready Talent Programme under the IT and ITES policy,” the CM further stated.
Through IBM’s advanced AI platform and cloud infrastructure, fintech firms in GIFT City can develop actionable AI software, bolstering their ability to provide AI-driven digital solutions across the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors. IBM’s commitment to developing AI curriculum for state schools and universities reassures the audience about the quality of education in the state. This programme has invited expressions of interest from universities and course providers across the state to participate in training youth in deep technology. IBM, NVidia, AWS, TCS, and L&T Edutech have committed to providing courses under this initiative.
In addition, four state universities GTU, IITRAM, P.D.E.U and Ganpat University have joined as aggregators, playing a crucial role in the AI initiative. Through these efforts, Gujarat aims to train 25,000 students in deep technology courses over three years, a goal that the audience can be proud of and support.
Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India-South Asia, said, “Using AI for business is a strategic priority for enterprises today to gain competitive advantage through better productivity, innovation and customer experience”. This collaboration is a significant step in our continued association with the Government of Gujarat to accelerate the state’s digital transformation. By establishing this AI cluster, we aim to make the latest AI solutions easily accessible to the vibrant and growing number of financial institutions in GIFT City,” he added.
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI and consulting expertise. The company help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain a competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to quickly, efficiently and securely affect their digital transformations. Its breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to its clients.
