IIT Kharagpur through Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence launches M.Tech in AI through GATE papers Data Analytics, Computer Science, Electronics & Electrical Communication Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. With AI being the the most sensational domains across all sectors including healthcare, legal, and automobile, etc., students are prepared to join the workforce directly or pursue PhD programs for cutting-edge research in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with excellent job placement opportunities. The M.Tech course curriculum is divided into four semesters. The first two semesters are dedicated to build a strong foundation through ten theory courses, of which four are compulsory. Students can choose six electives from the list of available courses offered by the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and some other departments of IIT Kharagpur. The last two semesters are dedicated to project work and internships.
The M.Tech program offers Theory Courses in Foundations of Machine Learning; Algorithmic and Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence; Deep Learning Foundations and Applications; Artificial Intelligence Foundations and Applications along with Lab Courses in Machine Learning Laboratory; Data Engineering Laboratory and Deep Learning Laboratory. The Elective Courses for the programme comprises of Linear Algebra for AI/ML; Statistical Foundations of AI/ML; Artificial Intelligence for Manufacturing; Artificial Intelligence for Economics; Graph Machine Learning: Foundations and Applications; Visual Computing with AI/ML; Interpretable Machine Learning; AI/ML for Robot Autonomy; Graphical and Generative Models for Machine Learning; Machine Learning for Earth System Sciences; Big Data Processing; Secure and Dependable AI/ML; Knowledge Modeling and Semantic Web Technologies; Advanced Learning Paradigms in AI and Artificial Intelligence for Cyber-Physical Systems etc.
In addition to the coursework, the research spans across various areas in Deep Learning including Reinforcement Learning; Federated Learning; Big Data Technologies; Information Retrieval; Planning & Scheduling; Control & Robotics; Signal Processing; Visual Computing; Natural Language Processing; Graph Machine Learning; AI for Cyber Physical Systems; AI for Agriculture; AI for Climate; Responsible AI; Encrypted ML and Applied Algebra in DL.
Under the aegis of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), DST, Government of India, the Innovation Hub, AI4ICPS initiated The Promotion and Acceleration of Young and Aspiring Technology Entrepreneurs (CPS-PRAYAS) which is a one-year on-site Startup Incubation program taken up by AI4ICPS. The program will support two AI/ML Startups at TRL 3-4 to advance to TRL 5 for scaling up and validation in relevant Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) environments. This support system empowers innovators to explore their ideas without the fear of failure, enabling them to advance to a stage where they possess a viable product and are poised to engage with incubators for commercialization.
Who can apply?
- The program is open to Young Entrepreneurs in the AI/ML space
- The program will not accept ideas that are below TRL 3 or beyond TRL 4
- Startup companies are permitted to apply
What is expected from the selected candidates in this 1 year?
- During this period the entrepreneurs are expected to work at AI4ICPS on-site maker space take ideas at TRL 3-4 and scale them to TRL 5 with support and guidance from the AI4ICPS Engineering team
- The entrepreneurs need to participate in various innovation workshops and training in person
- Be coached by the AI4ICPS Business team on Business Modelling, Venture Profiling, Idea pitching, and other business concepts
- Interact and network with other Entrepreneurs and build an ecosystem of Startups
What’s in it for you?
- A Seed Grant of INR 10 lakhs support at TRL4 to scale to TRL 5
- Access to AI4ICPS on-site maker space
- Support and guidance from the engineering team of AI4ICPS
- Access to the decorated alumni network of IIT Kharagpur
- Entrepreneurs will be prepared through business and market training to explore options for securing Ignition Grants and attracting venture capital investments.
What’s after 1 year?
- Successful graduates may apply for the CPS Startup Ignition grant
- The participants shall be able to apply for other support programs as well, but not participate in any more than one program at a given time.
The centre has also taken up Entreprenuer in Residence, CPS-EIR that will support twenty early-stage AI/ML entrepreneurs per year through a 1-year long fellowship program with on-site residency requirements at the AI4ICPS in IIT Kharagpur Campus. The entrepreneurs will walk in with ideas at TRL; 1-3, and explore and build MVP at TRL 3-4.
Who can apply?
- The program is open to young, full-time early-stage entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation but requires handholding to understand the technology space in AI/ML and Cyber Physical Systems
- The program will not accept ideas that are mature beyond TRL3
- Startup companies are not permitted to apply
What is expected from the selected candidates in this 1 year?
- During this period the entrepreneurs are expected to explore and build an MVP at TRL3-4 with help and guidance from the AI4ICPS incubation facility
- The entrepreneurs will also learn about the nuances of Deep Tech development using AI/ML and participate in the various innovation workshops at AI4ICPS
- Interact and network with other entrepreneurs and build a community of entrepreneurs
What’s in it for you?
- A stipend of up to INR 30,000 per month for a period of 1 year
- Guidance from Industry Professionals, VCs, Startup founders, and faculties of IIT Kharagpur who are connected with AI4ICPS
- Opportunity to work at the esteemed IIT Kharagpur campus and be at the heart of AI Innovation in India.
What’s after 1 year?
- Once the MVP is built, the entrepreneurs can apply to onboard on the CPS-PRAYAS program or for the CPS Startup Ignition Grant for further scaling and growth
- The participants shall be able to apply for other support programs as well, but not participate in any more than one program at a given time
The IIT Kharagpur AI4ICPS Hub Foundation in collaboration with TCS iON, organized the online certification course “Hands-on AI for real-world applications (HAAI)” from September 2, 2023, to December 2, 2023. Top 200 performers from this course received a Certificate of Merit (CoM) on March 16, 2024 in the presence of Prof. V K Tewari, Honorable Chairman of AI4ICPS and Director of IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Dean, R&D; Prof. Niloy Ganguly, Project Director of AI4ICPS; Prof. Pabitra Mitra, Joint Project Director of AI4ICPS; Mr. Dipyaman Banerjee, CEO of AI4ICPS and Ms. Aditi Srivastava, Program Manager of TCS iON. Mr. Sabyasachi Mukhopadhyay, Research Scholar, IIT Kharagpur, who worked as the skill development manager for cohort 1 of HAAI program was also the host of the program.
The dignitaries highlighted the importance of industry-oriented courses and future collaboration with TCS iON to launch more such courses in these directions so that employbility in these domains can see an upsurge. Project Director, Prof. Niloy Ganguly, and Joint Project Director, Prof. Pabitra Mitra, mentioned the learning from the feedback of participants in cohort 1 and lauded the efforts of the persons involved in successful completion of the course. Ms. Aditi Srivastava, Program Manager of TCS iON, shared the success story of cohort 1 briefly with the people present in the programme. Mr. Dipyaman Banerjee, CEO of AI4ICPS, delivered the vote of thanks and mentioned that after receiving overwhelming responses in the 1st cohort, AI4ICPS will launch the 2nd cohort of the HAAI program in collaboration with TCS iON on 1st June 2024.
Media Coverage:
| Times of India | Indian Express | Telegraph |
| India Today | The Statesman | DQ India |
| Hindustan Times | CRN |
Inputs by: Prof. Niloy Ganguli, Project Director & Prof. Pabitra Mitra, Joint Project Director of AI4ICPSEmail: pd@ai4icps.in ; pabitra@gmail.com
By: Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
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