Tamil Nadu government to set up AI Centre of Excellence in Coimbatore under PPP model

Tamil Nadu government will set up a Centre of Excellence in Coimbatore for Artificial Intelligence under public private partnership model, said Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan here on Friday.

Speaking at the valedictory of Confederation of Indian Industry’s two-day Connect event in Coimbatore, he said the government issued an order recently in this regard. A two million sq.ft facility will come up in Coimbatore on 18 acres, he said.

Coimbatore is home to 1,592 registered startups that have, so far, received $ 37 million venture funding.

The Department of Information Technology and Digital Services of the Tamil Nadu government is collecting documents and integrating them and when the data is validated, these will be used as a springboard for startups to develop applications.

The department is also focusing on human capital and is looking at teaching AI skills from school level. It is developing AI hubs and there are multiple VC support funds in the State, he said.

The Minister also launched the CII – ICT Academy AI Institute. The Institute is designed to empower students and faculty members with comprehensive AI knowledge, hands-on learning experience, and globally aligned certification programmes.

Youth will be empowered with AI skills through the institute, which will also nurture innovation. The AI Institute will offer programmes on AI Fundamentals, Machine Learning, Data Science, AI Ethics, and Applied AI in Industry, delivered through a blended learning model that will combine online content, instructor-led sessions, and project-based learning, said a press release.