IBM has partnered with Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru and CHRIST (Deemed to be University) to establish AI-focused centres to expand access to advanced computing, enterprise AI technologies, research and skilling.
Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru, a constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University, today inaugurated the IBM–MIT AI Lab – MAHE Intelligence GPU (MIG) at its Bengaluru campus in collaboration with IBM.
The Centre houses a High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility and is designed to democratise access to AI. The Lab will provide advanced AI computing resources, research infrastructure, and digital skilling opportunities to students, researchers, and institutions across India.
Powered by advanced GPU-enabled computing infrastructure, the AI Lab will support research in machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, computer vision, natural language processing, cybersecurity, healthcare, intelligent systems, and data analytics. The facility can simultaneously support 30 high-performance computing workloads.
Through IBM SkillsBuild, IBM’s free technology education program, MIT BLRU will establish an AI Learning Initiative.
The programme will offer AI awareness workshops, immersive bootcamps, hands-on training in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, IBM SkillsBuild digital credentials, mentorship from MIT BLRU faculty and student volunteers, and access to advanced computing infrastructure.
By reaching students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 institutions, the initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and equip learners with industry-relevant skills for the AI-driven economy.
“I commend MIT, BLRU and IBM on launching the IBM-MIT AI Lab and their shared commitment to advancing AI education and nurturing future-ready talent. This collaboration highlights the power of academia-industry partnerships in strengthening Karnataka’s AI ecosystem. By providing access to advanced AI infrastructure, hands-on learning, and resources, the lab will empower students and researchers to accelerate innovation and develop AI-driven solutions that address societal challenges and contribute to inclusive growth,” said Priyank Kharge, Cabinet Minister for Home, IT & BT, e-Governance, Government of Karnataka.
Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India and South Asia said, “India stands at a pivotal moment in its AI journey, with the talent, innovation ecosystem, and digital foundations to lead the next wave of global AI innovation. Realising this potential requires stronger collaboration between talent, research, advanced computing, and industry. Our collaboration with MIT BLRU reflects IBM’s commitment to democratizing access to emerging technologies, enterprise-grade computing, and digital skills, empowering students and researchers to advance AI innovation. Together, we are strengthening India’s AI research ecosystem and driving innovations that create meaningful impact for India and the world,”
Meanwhile, CHRIST (Deemed to be University) and IBM announced the establishment of the IBM Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence, to advance AI-driven education, research and innovation. The center will provide students, faculty members, researchers and PhD scholars with opportunities to develop and apply AI capabilities through access to enterprise technologies and real-world use cases.
The initiative will support learning and experimentation in areas including generative AI, agentic AI, large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), intelligent automation and responsible AI.
Participants will have access to IBM technologies to build enterprise AI applications through interdisciplinary research and solution development.
These include watsonx.ai, an AI development studio; watsonx Orchestrate, an agentic control plane for scaling and governing AI; and IBM Bob, an AI development partner that supports the full software lifecycle.
As part of the collaboration, IBM Expert Labs will conduct hands-on training and enablement programs for faculty members, PhD scholars and postgraduate students to help strengthen expertise in enterprise AI technologies and accelerate the development of AI-driven applications across disciplines.
They will also have access to IBM SkillsBuild, IBM’s free technology education program, as part of their learning and certification journey.
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