The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) focused on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. The new Centre, supported by a substantial ₹330 crore grant from the Ministry of Education, is set to serve as a hub for AI-driven innovation aligned with national health priorities.

The funding has been allocated under the Government of India’s flagship initiative — “Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India” — and aims to drive high-impact AI research and implementation to strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure. Officials familiar with the development confirmed that the Centre will serve as the primary executing vehicle for the four-year grant.

The proposed AI-CoE will operate as a Section 8 company, structured as a not-for-profit entity. Its primary mission will be to design and deploy AI-based tools and systems that support and enhance critical national health programmes. These include key focus areas such as cancer care, maternal and child health, blindness prevention, and tuberculosis management.

Transformational Potential Recognised by Leadership

The formal signing ceremony, held at IIT Delhi, marked a new era of cross-sector collaboration between two of the country’s most prestigious institutions. Prof. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, remarked, “This MoU marks the beginning of far-reaching collaborative research that has the potential to change the face of healthcare in the country.”

Echoing the sentiment, Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, stated, “A partnership between AIIMS and IIT Delhi has the potential to transform Artificial Intelligence for affordable healthcare. We are delighted to be shaping this national centre of excellence and hope that our output will impact the lives of Indians.”

Leadership and Vision at the Helm

The initiative will be co-led by senior faculty from both institutions. From IIT Delhi, Prof. Chetan Arora will serve as the Chief Project Manager. “We are excited to be part of this AI-CoE. The CoE will serve as a key research and resource centre at the national and international level and aims to revolutionise the national public health system using indigenously developed AI systems and solutions. Our aim is to develop cutting-edge AI solutions to upscale health services, upskill our healthcare providers, and improve the accessibility of quality healthcare to remote and marginalised sections of our population,” said Prof. Arora.

AIIMS Delhi will be represented by Dr. Krithika Rangarajan, also a Chief Project Manager for the initiative. “As we venture into this exciting new space, we look forward to guiding the marriage of healthcare with technology. We remain focused on keeping patients at the centre of this effort and hope to build mechanisms that would benefit every citizen of the country,” she said.

Strategic Governance and Long-Term Sustainability

According to sources familiar with the proposal, the CoE will be overseen by a board of directors potentially comprising secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Health, and Electronics & Information Technology. A dedicated CEO will also be appointed in the near future to lead the organisation.

Crucially, the Centre is envisioned to become a national resource that is not solely dependent on government grants. Plans are underway to invite support and funding from private sector partners, philanthropic bodies, and global alumni networks to ensure the Centre’s long-term viability and expanded reach.

Prof. Arora also noted, “IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi have a history of strong research collaboration, and we hope that the AI-CoE will establish a new model of collaboration between healthcare and AI technology research, not just in India, but globally.”

Read more: India Achieves Major Strides in Advanced Cancer Treatment with Pioneering Procedures in Nashik and Faridabad

Implications for the Healthcare Ecosystem

For stakeholders in the healthcare technology and ecosystem, the establishment of this AI-CoE presents significant opportunities for partnership, co-development, and application of AI tools in public health initiatives. The focus on scalable, affordable, and impactful AI solutions aligns with the pressing demand for innovation in diagnostics, treatment planning, predictive analytics, and remote care, especially for underserved populations.

This initiative is not just a technological leap, but a strategic alignment of healthcare delivery with India’s broader digital transformation goals. It represents a compelling model for academic-medical-industry collaboration that could shape the global narrative around AI in healthcare.

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