IIT Kharagpur partners with IT firm to launch AI innovation lab

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has announced a partnership with Persistent Systems to set up an AI innovation lab at the institute’s department of computer science and engineering (CSE). The initiative is aimed at boosting artificial intelligence research, encouraging industry-academia collaboration and preparing students for emerging opportunities in the AI sector.

The collaboration comes through an agreement signed between an affiliate of IIT Kharagpur and persistent. Both organisations said the lab is being launched with a shared focus on expanding access to AI research and innovation in India.

According to the company, the new facility will support research and applied AI development in areas such as healthcare analytics, education technology and financial intelligence. It will also include advanced computational and instructional infrastructure for students and researchers.

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IIT Kharagpur AI innovation lab

Persistent said the lab will bring together academic research and real-world engineering applications to develop scalable and responsible AI systems. The company expects the initiative to help build stronger AI capabilities through research frameworks, industry insights and skilled talent development.

The lab is also expected to encourage collaboration between academia, industry experts and policy stakeholders. Officials said the broader aim is to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem and create more opportunities for research-driven innovation.

Anand Deshpande, founder, chairman and managing director of Persistent, said the initiative will focus on solving practical problems through research and engineering. “India’s AI promise will be built on original research, deep engineering, and work on real problems that shape everyday life.”

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Speaking about his connection with the institute, Deshpande added, “IIT Kharagpur shaped my career and my way of thinking. I remain deeply grateful for that foundation. This initiative is a way to give back. Supporting the CSE@50 Mission as the Department approaches its golden jubilee in 2030 feels both natural and deeply personal.”

IIT Kharagpur on industry-academia ties

Faculty members at IIT Kharagpur said the partnership reflects the increasing role of industry collaborations in AI education and research. They noted that such initiatives help students and researchers gain exposure to practical challenges alongside academic learning.

Siddhartha Mukhopadhyay, dean, alumni affairs at IIT Kharagpur, said the collaboration would help bridge the gap between academia and industry. “This partnership brings industry perspective into our academic ecosystem while giving our students and faculty deeper exposure to real-world challenges,” he said.

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He also thanked Persistent Systems and the Deshpande family for supporting the institute and contributing to the initiative.

Niloy Ganguly, head of the CSE department at IIT Kharagpur, said the partnership would create an environment where academic ideas and industry needs could come together. He added that the initiative was especially meaningful because it is being led by an alumnus of the department.