Persistent, IIT Kharagpur launch AI innovation lab

Persistent Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding, through an affiliate, with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur to set up an AI Innovation Lab in the institute's Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The project brings together one of India's listed technology companies and a leading engineering school.

The lab is intended to support AI research, teaching and industry-academia collaboration. Work is expected to focus on areas including healthcare analytics, education technology and financial intelligence. The facility will include computing, laboratory and instructional resources, and will be used to develop AI systems with an emphasis on safety and responsible use.

The agreement also reflects a broader push by technology companies and higher education institutions in India to build closer ties around artificial intelligence, as businesses seek more applied research and universities look to strengthen student exposure to commercial and engineering problems.

The lab is designed to connect theoretical research with systems development and deployment. The work is also expected to contribute to Persistent's internal AI efforts through reusable frameworks, domain knowledge and talent pipelines.

The initiative will sit within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, one of the institute's best-known departments. It will also support the department's CSE@50 mission as it approaches its golden jubilee in 2030.

Dr. Anand Deshpande, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Persistent, linked the venture to both India's AI ambitions and his own connection to the institute.

"India's AI promise will be built on original research, deep engineering, and work on real problems that shape everyday life. The Persistent AI Innovation Lab at IIT Kharagpur will work closely with faculty and students to advance research while remaining rooted in India-centric challenges. That is how we will prepare graduates who are capable, grounded and ready to make a difference."

"IIT Kharagpur shaped my career and my way of thinking. I remain deeply grateful for that foundation. This initiative is a way to give back. Supporting the CSE@50 Mission as the Department approaches its golden jubilee in 2030 feels both natural and deeply personal."

"I hope this Lab becomes a place where young researchers feel the same spark I once felt and go on to build things that make India and the world better," Deshpande said.

Academic link

IIT Kharagpur said the partnership would bring commercial perspective into its academic environment and increase contact between students, faculty and real-world applications of AI. It also described the arrangement as part of a wider pattern of collaboration between universities and industry in the field.

"This partnership brings industry perspective into our academic ecosystem while giving our students and faculty deeper exposure to real-world challenges. It reflects the growing importance of academia-industry collaboration in advancing responsible and impactful AI at scale."

"On behalf of the institute, I deeply appreciate this wonderful contribution made by the Deshpande family as well as Persistent Systems and remain thankful for their love and support for the institute," said Prof. Siddhartha Mukhopadhyay, Dean - Alumni Affairs, IIT Kharagpur.

The head of the department also pointed to the significance of the link with an alumnus whose company has grown into an international technology business.

"This partnership with Persistent Systems will create an environment where academic curiosity meets engineering discipline and industry relevance. It is especially meaningful that this initiative is led by Dr. Anand Deshpande, an alumnus of our very own CSE Department, whose journey from the Department to building a global technology leader embodies the spirit we strive to nurture," Ganguly said.

India focus

India's universities and technology companies have been stepping up investment in artificial intelligence research, training and applied development as demand grows for tools that can be used in sectors ranging from finance to healthcare. Institutions have increasingly turned to joint labs and sponsored research to give students access to industry problems while giving companies a route to academic talent and specialist work.

For Persistent, the arrangement adds to its efforts to deepen AI-related work through formal ties with academia. For IIT Kharagpur, it offers another example of alumni-backed support tied to research, teaching and the development of technical talent.

The institute said the lab would serve as a place for knowledge exchange across academia, industry and policy stakeholders while helping widen access to foundational AI technologies across sectors.