Kolkata, September 24, 2026: The Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, has entered into a strategic partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to establish a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) on its campus.
As part of the collaboration, the High-Performance Computing Lab of the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIEST Shibpur has been designated as the physical location for the new AI Centre of Excellence. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally exchanged and the CoE was inaugurated on September 22, 2026.
The event was attended by Prof. V. M. S. R. Murthy, Director, IIEST Shibpur, along with Prof. Pratik Datta, Dean of Research & Consultancy; Prof. Arindam Biswas, Dean-Academics; and Prof. Konika Das (Bhattacharya), Chairperson, IIPC. Senior representatives from TCS, including Souvik Das, Anand Singh, Anupam Chakraborty and Tapas Laha, were also present, along with Heads of Departments, Associate Deans and faculty members.
Bridging Academia and Industry
The new Centre of Excellence is intended to create a stronger link between academic learning and real-world industrial applications of artificial intelligence. The initiative is aligned with broader national priorities associated with Digital India and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Through the partnership, IIEST Shibpur will combine its academic and research capabilities with TCS’s industry experience to promote applied research, develop industry-ready skills and contribute to the expansion of India’s AI ecosystem.
The CoE is also expected to serve as a platform for bringing together talent from different educational institutions to address technological challenges with industrial and societal relevance.
TCS to Support Industry-Oriented Learning
As the designated Knowledge Partner, TCS will support IIEST Shibpur in developing stronger connections between academic programmes and contemporary industry requirements.
The collaboration includes initiatives such as:
- Developing academic benchmarks aligned with evolving industry practices.
- Organising technical challenges, hackathons, workshops and skill-development programmes.
- Sharing industry tools, methodologies and best practices.
- Providing mentorship for AI-focused student projects, startups and entrepreneurial initiatives.
- Facilitating greater interaction between students, researchers and industry professionals.
Four Key Areas of the AI Centre
The Centre of Excellence will operate across four principal areas:
1. Skill Development
The CoE will facilitate industry-oriented training, professional certification programmes, hands-on projects and internship opportunities. It is also envisaged as an off-campus hub through which students from different disciplines can participate in TCS internship programmes under joint academic and industry supervision.
2. Collaborative Research
Research activities will focus on emerging and application-oriented AI technologies, including Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer Vision, Image Processing and Advanced Data Analytics.
3. Consulting and Industrial Solutions
The Centre will explore the development of customised AI-based solutions for operational and technological challenges faced by businesses and enterprises in the region.
4. Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Workshops, seminars, hackathons and expert lectures will be organised to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. The initiative also aims to create an environment conducive to the development of deep-tech startups and student-led ventures.
A Step Towards a Stronger AI Ecosystem
Commenting on the partnership, Prof. V. M. S. R. Murthy, Director, IIEST Shibpur, described the collaboration as an important development for both institutions and said it would help create a sustainable platform for technological innovation, entrepreneurship and talent development.
The establishment of the AI Centre of Excellence represents a new phase in the collaboration between IIEST Shibpur and the technology industry. By combining institutional research capabilities with industry expertise, the initiative seeks to strengthen opportunities for AI education, applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship in Eastern India and beyond.
Reported by Suman Munshi, IBG NEWS
Source: IIEST Shibpur, Public Relations Office