Latest news with #NM-ICPS
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
A mission for a tech-forward future
In India, when we think of flagship missions in science and technology, names like the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) or Digital India come to mind. But over the past six years, another equally ambitious initiative has been quietly laying the foundation for India's future in deep-tech innovation. The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), launched by the department of science and technology in 2018, has emerged as one of the most transformative efforts in building the nation's cyber-physical infrastructure and capabilities. In a world where technology is the new geopolitical currency, India cannot afford to be a mere consumer. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) This progress has been possible due to the progressive policies and sustained support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the past 11 years, especially in fostering research, innovation, and deep-tech entrepreneurship in the country. NM-ICPS is not a typical government programme. It did not stop at policy or paperwork. It has built a working ecosystem from scratch. At the heart of NM-ICPS are 25 Technology Innovation Hubs located in some of the country's top academic and R&D institutions. Each of these hubs is focused on a frontier technology area — artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT, quantum tech, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, blockchain, and more. But what sets them apart is not just their focus. It is the integration of research, entrepreneurship, product development, and skills training that makes this mission both unique and scalable. Over 1700 technology products and solutions have been developed under this mission so far. These are not just prototypes sitting on lab shelves. Many are being actively deployed in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, energy, defence, and logistics. Several are aligned with India's national priorities such as food security, public safety, and inclusive digital access. Importantly, these are homegrown technologies—designed in India, for India. Innovation alone, however, is not enough unless it reaches people and markets. That is where the NM-ICPS architecture has shown foresight. More than 900 startups have been supported by the hubs, across domains like drone tech, quantum communication, digital forensics, speech analytics and AI/ML-based diagnostics. These are deep-tech ventures, often started by young graduates and researchers, which would have struggled to find the right support in a conventional system. The mission has also facilitated over 150 international collaborations, opening up new avenues for cross-border technology partnerships. Skill development has been another major pillar. Over 1.6 lakh individuals have been trained through TIH-led programmes in CPS-related domains. These include students, researchers, industry professionals, and even school teachers in some cases. Building a future-ready workforce is essential if India is to stay competitive in these technologies. One of the most significant initiatives last year was the launch of BharatGen, a multilingual, multimodal large language model initiative being developed at IIT Bombay. Unlike generic models that lack context or cultural sensitivity, BharatGen aims to develop foundational AI models grounded in Indian languages, social nuances, and local data ecosystems. This could become a game-changer for inclusive digital public infrastructure and India's AI ambitions. The mission also underwent an independent Third-Party Evaluation recently. Most government schemes shy away from such scrutiny. But NM-ICPS welcomed it. The evaluation team not only affirmed the impact and relevance of the mission but also recommended enhancements in institutional frameworks for faster translation and scale. The assessment also led to the selection of four Technology Innovation Hubs for upgradation into full-fledged Technology Translation Research Parks (TTRPs). These TTRPs — at IIT Indore (digital health), IISc Bangalore (robotics & AI), IIT Kanpur (cybersecurity), and IIT Dhanbad (mining tech) — will serve as national anchors for turning lab innovations into scalable commercial solutions. The selection was based on rigorous performance benchmarks, including translational outcomes, industry linkages, and revenue generation, and the upgradation will empower them with enhanced funding and infrastructure to lead national-level deep-tech innovation efforts. This is a significant leap. India has often struggled to move from lab to market, particularly in hardware-centric and deep-tech areas. These new TTRPs will bridge that gap by integrating research, validation, piloting, standards, and industry partnerships under one roof. Too often, we compare ourselves with Silicon Valley or Tel Aviv and lament the lack of deep-tech innovation in India. But missions such as NM-ICPS show that when the vision is right, when institutions are trusted and when academia is empowered, we can build ecosystems that deliver not just research papers but real impact. This journey is still evolving. More needs to be done to sustain and expand the gains. We need stronger linkages with user ministries, better market access for start-ups, more industry co-investment, and a policy environment that encourages risk-taking. But the foundation has been laid. The institutional architecture is working. The innovations are real. The startups are scaling. And the talent pipeline is growing. In a world where technology is the new geopolitical currency, India cannot afford to be a mere consumer. We need to shape the rules, build the tools, and train the minds that will define this century's technological landscape. The NM-ICPS mission is a bold step in that direction. It deserves greater visibility, deeper support, and sustained momentum. Because in the end, it is not just about creating technology. It is about creating national capacity, confidence, and conviction in our own potential. V Ramgopal Rao is vice-chancellor, BITS Pilani group of institutions, and former director, IIT Delhi. He chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee of NM-ICPS. The views expressed are personal.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bharat Gen, AI-based multimodal LLM for Indian languages, launched
New Delhi: Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh launched ' Bharat Gen ', an indigenously developed artificial intelligence-based multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) for Indian languages, here on Monday. Developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and implemented through TIH Foundation for IoT (Internet of Things) and IoE (Internet of Everything) at IIT Bombay , Bharat Gen aims to revolutionize AI development across India's linguistic and cultural spectrum, Singh said. The initiative is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and brings together a consortium of leading academic institutions, experts, and innovators. Singh described Bharat Gen as a "national mission to create AI that is ethical, inclusive, multilingual, and deeply rooted in Indian values and ethos". The platform integrates text, speech, and image modalities, offering seamless AI solutions in 22 Indian languages. "This initiative will empower critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance, delivering region-specific AI solutions that understand and serve every Indian," Singh said. The minister recounted a success story from his own constituency Udhampur where an AI doctor communicates fluently in the patient's native language. "It not only builds trust but has a placebo-like psychological effect, enabling better care in remote regions connected with superspeciality hospitals across India," he said. Singh emphasised the transformative role of Generative AI in grassroots governance, citing the integration of multilingual feedback systems into platforms like CPGRAMS to enhance citizen engagement and grievance redressal.
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Business Standard
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Everything to know about Bharat Gen, the AI-based LLM for Indian languages
Union Minister for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, launched 'Bharat Gen', an artificial intelligence (AI)-based multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) designed for Indian languages, in New Delhi on Monday. Developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and implemented through TIH Foundation for IoT (Internet of Things) and IoE (Internet of Everything) at IIT Bombay, Bharat Gen aims to revolutionise AI development across India's linguistic and cultural spectrum, Singh said. Bharat Gen is backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and brings together a consortium of top academic institutions, experts, and innovators to lead AI research and application. Describing the project, Singh said it represents a national-level effort to build AI that is 'ethical, inclusive, multilingual, and deeply rooted in Indian values and ethos.' AI to support healthcare, education, and governance "This initiative will empower critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance, delivering region-specific AI solutions that understand and serve every Indian," Singh said. He also shared a real-life example from his own constituency of Udhampur, where an AI doctor communicates fluently in the patient's native language. "It not only builds trust but has a placebo-like psychological effect, enabling better care in remote regions connected with superspeciality hospitals across India," he explained. Singh highlighted the growing role of Generative AI in governance at the grassroots level, particularly through improved feedback systems in government platforms. "The integration of multilingual feedback systems into platforms like CPGRAMS helps enhance citizen engagement and grievance redressal," he said. What is AI-based multimodal LLM A multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) powered by AI is a highly advanced system that can understand and process various types of input, such as text, images, sound, and video. Unlike traditional language models that work only with text, multimodal models can combine different kinds of data. For example, they can look at an image and answer questions about it or watch a video and describe what's happening. These systems are trained on huge and diverse datasets that include more than just written words, which helps them carry out complex tasks across formats. By using multiple types of input, these models can interact in a way that's more similar to how humans understand the world. This makes them highly effective for practical use in areas like healthcare (such as reading scans and reports), education (like using visuals alongside text to aid learning), and accessibility (for instance, describing images to people with visual impairments). Multimodal LLMs are a big step forward in creating AI that's more adaptable, aware of context, and user-friendly.
NDTV
02-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
'Bharat Gen', Indigenous AI-Based Model For Indian Languages, Launched
New Delhi: Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh launched 'Bharat Gen', an indigenously developed artificial intelligence-based multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) for Indian languages, here on Monday. Developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and implemented through TIH Foundation for IoT (Internet of Things) and IoE (Internet of Everything) at IIT Bombay, Bharat Gen aims to revolutionize AI development across India's linguistic and cultural spectrum, Mr Singh said. The initiative is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and brings together a consortium of leading academic institutions, experts, and innovators. "Launched India's first-of-its-kind, indigenously developed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven , government-funded Multimodal "Large Language Model" (LLM) for Indian languages. "BharatGen" is not a mere technology venture but indeed a national mission to create AI that is… — Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 2, 2025 Mr Singh described Bharat Gen as a "national mission to create AI that is ethical, inclusive, multilingual, and deeply rooted in Indian values and ethos". The platform integrates text, speech, and image modalities, offering seamless AI solutions in 22 Indian languages. "This initiative will empower critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance, delivering region-specific AI solutions that understand and serve every Indian," Mr Singh said. The minister recounted a success story from his own constituency Udhampur where an AI doctor communicates fluently in the patient's native language. "It not only builds trust but has a placebo-like psychological effect, enabling better care in remote regions connected with superspeciality hospitals across India," he said. Mr Singh emphasised the transformative role of Generative AI in grassroots governance, citing the integration of multilingual feedback systems into platforms like CPGRAMS to enhance citizen engagement and grievance redressal.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
IIT-I to develop tech translation research park
Indore: Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT-I), is developing a Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP) with an aim to enhance digital health solutions and creating a seamless digital health ecosystem in the country. The advanced facility at IIT-I in digital healthcare to be set up under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) will work to bridge the gap between urban and rural healthcare services, leveraging telemedicine , electronic health records (EHRs), artificial intelligence-driven diagnostics and personalised medicine and care. The institute received a nod from the department of science and technology and governing body of NMICPS led by Kris Gopalakrishnan, founder of Infosys, to upgrade IIT-I's technology innovation hub Drishti CPS Foundation into a TTRP with an outlay of Rs 250 crore for next three years in tranches. Of the total proposed amount Rs 52 crore has been received by the foundation. "The new TTRP comes as a great validation of the initiatives on digital healthcare that has been incubated in IIT-I. We look forward to extending the mandate of IIT-I Drishti CPS Foundation into the digital healthcare through this new TTRP," said IIT-I director professor Suhas S Joshi. IIT-Indore established the Drishti CPS Foundation in 2020, which has so far supported over 150 technology projects and startups with funds and mentoring. Drishti CPS Foundation CEO Aditya Vyas said, "The research park will cater to the growing need of the nation in creating a robust digital health infrastructure. Drishti CPS is developing a flagship unified human digital twin platform - CharakDT. The novel, systematic and scalable architecture of CharakDT allows a unique way of creating individual health models (twins) for each patient by aggregating contextual data from multifarious sources and implementing large-scale AI models across dimensions of organ physics, demography, diagnostic tools, and environment."
