S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Madras today announced an endowment of Rs. 110 Crore by Mr. Sunil Wadhwani towards setting up the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI.
A distinguished alumnus of IIT Madras and the Co-founder of IGATE and Mastech Digital, Mr. Wadhwani’s gift is one of the largest gifts given by an alumnus to create a School at an educational institution in India.
MoU at IIT Madras
The MoU was signed today between Mr. Sunil Wadhwani and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, in the presence of faculty, students, alumni, and researchers.
Vision
With a vision to be among the top AI-focused schools worldwide, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI also aims to advise the Government and policymakers on Data Science and AI-related policy areas.
Industry 4.0
Highlighting the need for such a school, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “With the advent of Industry 4.0, wherein AI and Data Science are the main movers, the need for a school for Data Science and AI is critical.
IIT Madras has started this highly interdisciplinary school involving faculty from many departments joining hands to work on niche areas, including Responsible AI, he said.
I also express my deep gratitude to Mr. Sunil Wadhwani and his family for sponsoring this School with a generous donation through their foundation, which is close to Rs. 110 crore, said IIT Madras director.
Support
Over the years, Mr. Sunil Wadhwani, through his family foundation, Wadhwani Impact Trust, has been supporting social welfare, affordable healthcare, and scientific research through the Wadhwani Institute of Sustainable Healthcare (WISH Foundation) and Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence (WIAI), respectively, say sources from IIT Madras.
Impact
The WISH Foundation has impacted over 30 million lives across 8 states in India by making quality healthcare accessible to economically challenged people, say sources from IIT Madras.
As an independent non-profit institute, WIAI develops AI-based solutions for underserved communities in developing countries.
Mr Wadhwani was named in TIME100 AI list of 2023, a list of the 100 most influential people in Artificial Intelligence across the globe, say sources from IIT Madras.
AI and Social Impact
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Sunil Wadhwani said, “AI and social impact are close to my heart, and it’s my honour to be contributing to my alma mater.
I see a strong need for a dedicated Data Science and AI school focusing on foundational and applied research in these areas, he said.
With the advancements in science and technology, India holds immense potential and can be a world leader in AI and allied sciences, he said.
As a proud alumnus, IIT Madras holds a special place in my life, and I am gratified to be associated with them in this manner, he said.
Courses
Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI will offer the following courses:
Ø BTech programme in AI and Data Analytics
Ø MTech programme in Data Science and AI
Ø MS & PhD Programmes in Data Science and AI
Ø Joint MSc in Data Science and AI with the University of Birmingham, UK
Ø International Interdisciplinary Masters Programme in Data Science
Ø Interdisciplinary Dual Degree in Data Science
Ø Web-enabled MTech in Industrial AI
Admissions
Admissions will commence in July 2024. The school will also run a Joint MSc in Data Science and AI with the University of Birmingham, U.K., admitting 30 students and an International Interdisciplinary Masters Programme.
Applied Research Areas
The Applied Research Areas of this School will be:
Ø Healthcare
Ø Agriculture
Ø Smart cities and transportation
Ø Financial analytics
Ø Manufacturing
Ø Energy and Environment
Ø Defence
Ø Education
Ø Systems Biology
Contribution and Vision
Thanking Mr. Wadhwani for his generous contribution, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, said, “We are grateful to Mr. Wadhwani who has been a long-time supporter of IIT Madras.
Responsible AI deployed in India is ready for use in the world at large. As a result, this School will make its mark on the world stage soon, he said.
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Laying out the vision, Prof. B. Ravindran, Founding Head, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, said “Data Science and AI are inherently interdisciplinary fields.
The Wadhwani School will enable close collaboration between domain experts and AI researchers to develop solutions that integrate AI with existing approaches, he said.
Our various degree programs will train students in core AI techniques, data-driven problem solving, and interdisciplinary design adhering to principles of responsible AI, he said.
There will be programs that cater to industry professionals and an international student body, he said.
Importance
Highlighting the importance of a strong working relationship between premier institutions and their alumni and corporate partners, Mr. Kaviraj Nair, CEO, Office of Institutional Advancement, IIT Madras, said, “Alumni giving to research endowments is like planting seeds of knowledge that bear fruit for the entire world.
Through such support, our alumni not only honour our past but also invest in our future.
Their contributions fuel the pursuit of excellence, transforming our IIT Madras into a beacon of innovation and a catalyst for positive change, he said.
Research
Extensive interdisciplinary research efforts will place IIT Madras at the forefront of Data Science and AI. This new School will integrate core and fundamental research with application research.