MeitY ropes in Microsoft, iCreate to bolster India’s AI start-up ecosystem

Microsoft and iCreate on Wednesday announced the launch of the iCreate-Microsoft programme for Emerging Leaders in Artificial Intelligence (iMPEL-AI), a joint initiative with the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), to help India’s AI innovators create marketable solutions to emerging needs.

iMPEL-AI will handhold creative minds across the country to become the most valuable players (MVPs) in the AI start-up ecosystem.

Microsoft and iCreate launched iMPEL-AI programme in the presence of minister of state for electronics and information technology Rajiv Chandrasekhar.

To start with, the programme will focus on 1100 AI innovators across the country with the capacity to become Most Valuable Players (MPVs) in priority areas like healthcare, financial inclusion, sustainability, education, agriculture, and smart cities. Further, the programme will identify and scale 100 among these and equip them with Azure OpenAI, and the top 25 will develop advanced, globally competitive products with market support from Microsoft.

Microsoft and iCreate will also provide AI skilling opportunities to 11,000 innovators, startups, and young Indians through Microsoft’s Learning Management System. 

“This partnership with Microsoft and iCreate takes forward the vision set forth by PM Modi ji during his meeting with Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella last year,” said MoS Chandrasekhar

“It is the vision of our PM that we catalyze startups not only in big cities but also in smaller towns,” the minister added.

Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft’s executive vice president and president of its national transformation partnerships, said the iMPEL-AI innovation programme will help bring about a dynamic AI ecosystem in India and enable AI innovators and entrepreneurs to create new possibilities. 

“We are already seeing incredible value from AI innovation in India, from supporting farmers with digital chatbots to transforming economic opportunities for underserved communities through translation tools, and Microsoft is dedicated to being India’s copilot in its AI transformation journey,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Avinash Punekar, CEO of iCreate, said the iMPEL-AI programme is carefully crafted to foster AI innovation and product development to enable Indian innovators build globally successful AI ventures.