Google.org funds USD 8 M for AI Centres at IITs, IISc for health, governance, education
Google.org is putting $8 million on the table to boost artificial‑intelligence research at some of India’s top science and engineering schools. The money will flow into four new AI Centres of Excellence, each anchored at a different institute and each tasked with tackling a specific societal challenge. One hub will dive into medical diagnostics, another will explore how data can improve city‑level decision‑making, a third will look at ways to modernise teaching, and the last will target farming productivity.
In parallel, the firm is earmarking an additional $2 million to launch a research effort focused on Indic language technologies, a move that could broaden access to AI‑driven tools for millions of speakers. By coupling substantial capital with partnerships across IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras and IIT Ropar, Google.org hopes to translate cutting‑edge research into tangible outcomes for health, governance, education and agriculture. The details of these initiatives follow.
The four AI Centres of Excellence supported by Google.org are based at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras and IIT Ropar, focusing on healthcare, urban governance, education and agriculture. Google is also making a $2 million founding contribution to set up an Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay. In healthcare, Google announced $400,000 to support the development of India's Health Foundation Models using its MedGemma technology.
As part of this effort, Ajna Lens will work with AIIMS experts on dermatology and outpatient triaging use cases, while IISc researchers will explore broader clinical applications. Google is also working with the National Health Authority to convert unstructured medical records into machine-readable formats and to list over 400,000 registered health facilities on Google Maps and Search. "From foundational research to ecosystem deployment to scaled impact, our full-stack approach is equipping the country to lead a global AI-powered future," said Manish Gupta, senior research director at Google DeepMind.
To support developers and startups, Google announced $50,000 grants each for Gnani.AI, CoRover.AI and BharatGen, and said it has uploaded all 22 of its open Gemma models to the government's AIKosh platform to enable local model development. On sustainability, Google said it has partnered with ReNew Energy to support a new 150-MW solar project in Rajasthan, with environmental attribute certificates to be applied across its value chain emissions. The initiative builds on earlier renewable energy partnerships in India.
Google said the combined efforts are aimed at linking research, deployment and infrastructure to support India's AI ambitions across public services and industry.
Will the new centres deliver measurable progress? Google.org’s $8 million pledge earmarks four AI Centres of Excellence at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras and IIT Ropar, each tasked with work in healthcare, urban governance, education and agriculture. At the same time, a $2 million founding contribution will launch an Indic Language Technologies Research effort.
The company says the money dovetails with India’s ambition to treat artificial intelligence as a national capability, and that the support will span research, Digital Public Infrastructure and startup development. Yet details on how the funds will be allocated remain sparse. Moreover, the impact of parallel investments in health, language and clean‑energy projects has not been quantified.
Critics might ask whether the centres can translate academic output into practical solutions for India’s pressing challenges. Google’s statements suggest confidence, but concrete metrics for success have yet to be disclosed. As the programmes roll out, their effectiveness will need careful monitoring.
Further Reading
- Google's India AI Push: To Provide $8 Mn To CoEs, Offer Grants To Startups - Inc42
- Google announces $8 million funding for India's AI Centers of Excellence - Times of India
- Google pledges $15 million, unveils new collaborations to boost India's AI research and developer community - Moneycontrol
- Google announces $8 million funding for India's AI research centres - Business Standard
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Common Questions Answered
Which institutions host the four AI Centres of Excellence funded by Google.org's $8 million pledge?
The AI Centres of Excellence are anchored at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Ropar. Each centre focuses on a distinct societal challenge: healthcare, urban governance, education, and agriculture respectively.
What specific amount does Google.org allocate for healthcare research, and what technology does it involve?
Google.org earmarks $400,000 for healthcare research to develop India's Health Foundation Models. This effort utilizes Google's MedGemma technology to advance medical diagnostics and related AI applications.
How does the $2 million founding contribution from Google.org support language research in India?
The $2 million contribution establishes an Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay. The hub aims to develop AI tools and resources for India's diverse languages, enhancing accessibility and digital inclusion.
What societal challenges are targeted by the AI Centres of Excellence, and how do they align with India's AI national capability goals?
The centres target healthcare, urban governance, education, and agriculture, addressing critical public needs. This aligns with India's ambition to treat artificial intelligence as a national capability by fostering domain‑specific AI innovations across key sectors.