CHRIST (Deemed to be University) and IBM have partnered to establish the IBM Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence in Bengaluru, a move aimed at accelerating AI research, innovation and talent development in India. The new center will provide students, faculty members, researchers and PhD scholars with access to enterprise-grade AI technologies, enabling them to build practical AI solutions while strengthening industry-academia collaboration.
The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world applications by offering hands-on experience with advanced artificial intelligence tools and platforms. Participants will be able to explore cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI, agentic AI, large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), intelligent automation and responsible AI.
As part of the collaboration, learners and researchers will have access to IBM’s enterprise AI portfolio, including watsonx.ai, an AI development studio; watsonx Orchestrate, which enables the governance and scaling of AI agents; and IBM Bob, an AI-powered software development partner that assists throughout the software development lifecycle. These technologies are expected to support interdisciplinary research and the creation of enterprise-ready AI applications.
Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Fr. Jose C C, Vice Chancellor of CHRIST (Deemed to be University), said artificial intelligence is transforming every sector of society, making it essential for educational institutions to prepare students for an AI-driven future. He said the partnership with IBM would create a future-ready innovation ecosystem where education, research and industry come together, empowering students and researchers with enterprise-level AI technologies while promoting the development of ethical and responsible AI solutions.
Beyond access to technology, the collaboration also focuses on strengthening AI skills through practical training. IBM Expert Labs will conduct hands-on training sessions and enablement programmes for faculty members, postgraduate students and PhD scholars, helping them build expertise in enterprise AI technologies. Participants will also receive access to IBM SkillsBuild, the company’s free technology education platform, which offers learning resources and certification opportunities.
Highlighting the significance of the partnership, Siddhesh Naik, Executive Director, Growth Markets, Technology Sales, IBM India & South Asia, said the future of AI innovation depends on stronger collaboration between academia and industry. According to him, the initiative will help strengthen India’s AI talent pipeline, accelerate research and innovation, and prepare a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of an AI-driven economy. He added that students and researchers would gain practical exposure to enterprise AI technologies while applying them to solve real-world challenges.
The Innovation Center will also introduce students to modern software development powered by artificial intelligence. Vishal Chahal, Vice President, IBM India Software Lab, said AI is fundamentally transforming the way software is built. Through access to IBM Bob, students and researchers will experience how AI can accelerate every stage of software development, helping them create scalable, reliable and enterprise-ready AI applications.
In addition to research and training, the center will promote collaborative projects between academia and industry through internships, hackathons, innovation challenges and research initiatives. These activities are expected to encourage students and researchers to experiment with emerging AI technologies while contributing to the development of future-ready solutions for industry and society.
The establishment of the IBM Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence marks another step towards strengthening India’s AI ecosystem by combining academic excellence with industry expertise. By equipping students and researchers with advanced AI tools and practical learning opportunities, the initiative aims to nurture the next generation of AI innovators capable of driving technological progress responsibly.
Subscribe Deshwale on YouTube
