What's Inside Bengaluru-Based First Innovation Lab in India?
The first technology innovation lab, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Technologies Park (ARTPARK), is being set up in Bengaluru to promote technology innovations in AI and robotics, where the government initiated development. The government expects technology innovations in AI and robotics will lead to a positive societal impact by executing ambitious mission-mode research and development (R&D) projects in healthcare, education, mobility, infrastructure, agriculture, retail, and cybersecurity, focusing on problems specific to India. AI and robotics are a powerful combination for automating tasks inside and outside of a factory setting. In recent years, AI has become an increasingly common presence in robotic solutions, introducing flexibility and learning capabilities in previously rigid applications. While AI is still in its nascent stages, it’s been a transformative technology for some applications in the manufacturing sector. However, many segments are yet to feel the impact. Now the development in technology innovation impacts all the sectors.
During the inauguration, C.N Ashwath Narayan, Minister of IT/BT said that ARTPARK had been set up to effectively use technology, specifically AI and Robotics, for the country's betterment. The ARTPARK’s objective is to channel innovations into creating a societal impact by executing ambitious mission-mode R and D projects in healthcare, education, mobility, infrastructure, agriculture, retail, and cyber-security to solve India's unique problems.
How Does ARTPARK Help Professionals?
ARTPARK develops AI and robotics facilities to support technology innovations and capacity building through the advanced skills training of students and professionals in these areas. Some of these facilities will be key enablers for a whole new set of technologies, products, and services. It will develop DataSetu to enable confidentiality, a privacy-preserving framework to share data, run analytics spurring the data-sharing ecosystem and create a data marketplace, boosting AI applications and solutions. Another service will be BhashaSetu, which will enable real-time Indic language translation of both speech-to-speech and speech-to-text. This will further unlock the country's economic potential, allowing all Indian citizens to participate in economic progress equitably regardless of their language.
ARTPARK to Help Youth Outside Urban India
This initiative to push the narrative for 'Connecting the unconnected' by ARTPARK will help the youth outside urban India access not only the next generation of digital work but also acquire the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven future. Karnataka will take a leadership role to create the new economic growth model for Atmanirbhar Bharat.
According to Professor Ashutosh Sharma, DST Secretary, the National Mission ICPS, with its 25 Hubs, has a unique architecture that envisages a strong collaboration and co-ownership among the triple helix of industry, academia, and government with full flexibility. Generous additional support of the Government of Karnataka to the ARTPARK Hub brings extraordinary value in increasing its effectiveness, reach, and use. It also sets a template of center-state partnership in the frontier areas of technology. This theme will focus on the soon-to-be-released Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2020.
Umakant Soni, chief executive officer, ARTPARK explained that in the age of AI, knowledge will be everywhere. Students won’t have to cram information anymore and can focus on applying it to create things. Similarly, healthcare should be available everywhere and not just in hospitals.
According to Professor Ashutosh Sharma, DST Secretary, "the National Mission ICPS with its 25 Hubs has a unique architecture that envisages a strong collaboration and co-ownership among the triple helix of industry, academia, and government with full flexibility. Generous additional support of the Government of Karnataka to the ARTPARK Hub brings extraordinary value in increasing its effectiveness, reach, and use. It also sets a template of centre-state partnership in the frontier areas of technology– a theme which will receive focus in the soon to be released Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 2020.”
“Indian academia has been carrying out cutting edge technology research in various domains. However, we have had systemic issues in moving the results of this research from university laboratories into the outside world. ARTPARK would go a long way in establishing a template for addressing this need,” Professor Govindan Rangarajan, Director IISc pointed out.
Robin Sukhia, Secretary-General, and President of the Sweden India Business Council, pointed out how the not-for-profit organization will enable international co-creation at a higher and deeper level to help solve today’s and tomorrow’s challenges uniquely using technology.
Soni said, “our Indian academics have produced talent that now heads several leading tech companies. The next phase of growth requires that we encourage such talent to stay in India and convert their research into products and companies. Then only we will grow from a $3 trillion to $10 trillion economy. To support startups and products incubated at labs, ARTPARK has set aside a $100 million fund. Once we convert the research that is happening into interesting products and companies, then we will support them with the $100 million venture fund over a period of 10-12 years.”
According to Subhashis Banerjee, chief information officer, ARTPARK, primarily they are trying to create successful companies out of India which will solve problems, create jobs, and ultimately export to the world.
Professor Bharadwaj Amrutur, research head, and director ARTPARK, explained that this initiative was a natural evolution of the robot Bosch center for Cyber-physical systems, interdisciplinary research, and academic center at IISc, with funding from the Bosch group of companies.
India is home to the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, elite science and technology institutions like the IITs, robust and ubiquitous digital infrastructure, and millions of newly-minted STEM graduates every year. India is well-positioned to become a global leader in the development of AI. Industry analysts predict that AI could add up to $ 957 billion to India’s economy by 2035. India hopes to stand out in the international community not just as a leader in the Artificial Intelligence field but also as a model to show the world how to responsibly direct AI for social empowerment. The nation has robust plans to leverage AI for inclusive development, representing the country’s ‘AI for All’ strategy.