3 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
IIIT-B's DIP to touch billion lives across globe
Bengaluru, July 6 (UNI) In a powerful demonstration of India's growing global footprint in digital transformation, the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) has taken centre stage in the global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) movement.
At the 25th Convocation Ceremony held on Sunday, IIIT-B Director Prof. Debabrata Das announced that the institute's flagship innovation, the Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), has already enabled more than 136 million digital IDs and is set to impact nearly 1 billion people across 27 countries within the next three years.
Prof. Das described MOSIP as a landmark achievement—an open-source, privacy-centric digital ID system developed entirely in India but adopted globally. The platform has garnered international recognition, winning the International Future of Government Award in 2024 and the 'Champion' award at the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva.
Its ethical and scalable architecture has made it a trusted solution for governments seeking secure and inclusive identity systems. Calling it a 'homegrown R&D product from India to the world,' Prof. Das emphasized how MOSIP exemplifies India's role as a lighthouse nation in building open digital systems for public good.
The institute's global DPI work is being coordinated through its Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI), a non-profit unit working across Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
CDPI has collaborated with over 60 countries, advising on DPI architecture and strategy with a strong emphasis on data protection, user consent, and verifiable credentials. IIIT-B's impact in this field was further highlighted when Prof. Das presented the institute's DPI vision at the UN Citizen's Stack Conference in Geneva, positioning India's innovation as a model for the Global South.
As an extension of the MOSIP framework, IIIT-B has also developed INJI, a next-generation data exchange and credentialing platform designed with strong privacy protections. INJI has already been adopted by four countries, with more expected to follow. Prof. Das acknowledged the crucial support from eKStep Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Pratiksha Trust and NORAD in helping the institute scale these initiatives.
IIIT-Bangalore's contributions to digital governance are part of a broader portfolio of innovation across health, telecom, artificial intelligence, policy, and sustainability.
In the domain of public health, the institute's E-Health Research Centre, in partnership with NIMHANS, has played a central role in the Tele-MANAS initiative of the Government of India. The mental health tele-consultation service, available via a multilingual mobile platform, has handled more than 20 lakh calls over the past year, doubling its previous reach and making critical psychological support accessible nationwide.
Another major initiative is the AI for Inclusion and Innovation Initiative (A41), launched in partnership with Microsoft Research. Based at IIIT-B's Centre for Accessibility in the Global South (CAGS), the project develops large-scale digital public goods that use artificial intelligence to serve underserved communities. Supported by Microsoft Philanthropies, A41 is aimed at ensuring that frontier technologies reach the people who need them most.
In the field of telecommunications, the institute's COMET Foundation has developed a 5G-Advanced base station aligned with global telecom standards, focused on the Open Radio Access Network paradigm. This technology is designed to reduce market entry barriers for small and mid-sized players in a highly concentrated industry. Looking ahead to 6G, the foundation is also working on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) to improve connectivity, reduce energy consumption, and lower deployment costs in traditionally underserved areas.
IIIT-B's expertise in data and digital policy has earned it recognition from NITI Aayog, which has designated the institute as a Lead Knowledge Institution under its State Support Mission. In this role, the institute is helping states design evidence-based policy using advanced data science tools.
Even as it expands its technical and research footprint, IIIT-Bangalore continues to lead on the sustainability front. For the third consecutive year, it has received the International Green University Award, honouring its commitment to sustainable practices in line with UNESCO's Greening Education Partnership. The institute has integrated environmental awareness into its infrastructure and learning systems, reinforcing its role as a future-focused, socially responsible institution.
In response to its growing national and global responsibilities, the institute's Governing Body has approved a major expansion plan, allocating Rs. 817 crore to establish a new East Campus over the next seven years. This will provide the infrastructure required to support its ambitious academic, research, and outreach goals.
Established in 1998 and located in the heart of Electronics City, IIIT-Bangalore continues to set new benchmarks in education, research, and innovation. Offering specialized programs in computer science, electronics, AI, data science, and digital humanities, the institute has consistently ranked among the top private technical universities in India. Accredited A+ by NAAC and ranked 74th in the 2024 NIRF rankings, IIIT-B was also named the best private technical university by India Today.
As the world moves rapidly toward building inclusive, resilient digital societies, IIIT-Bangalore's pioneering work in DPI, health tech, telecom, and AI places it at the vanguard of global change. With its blend of cutting-edge research, ethical design, and real-world deployment, the institute is helping define the future of technology in service of people—both in India and around the world.
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