Tata Consultancy Services partners with IIT Kharagpur to advance digital health and AI innovation

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, has unveiled a state-of-the-art research centre in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP). This groundbreaking initiative focuses on revolutionising digital health, robotics, and intelligent systems by harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as edge computing, embedded systems, and artificial intelligence (AI). Located in Kolkata’s New Town Research Park, the centre is poised to become a hub for transformative innovation.

Pioneering research to solve global challenges

The TCS Research Centre features three advanced laboratories dedicated to Sensing and Communications, Edge Computing and Analytics, and Robotics and Visual Computing. Over 150 TCS scientists will leverage cutting-edge equipment to push the boundaries of innovation in these domains. The centre aims to address critical challenges in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture by developing smart, efficient, and scalable technological solutions.

TCS’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Harrick Vin, emphasised the strategic significance of integrating research facilities within academic environments. He explained that TCS is reshaping traditional collaboration models by embedding innovation labs within universities. Dr Vin noted that the company’s earlier success with IIT Madras Research Park was instrumental in shaping this initiative, with the IIT Kharagpur facility marking a vital next step in fostering academic and industry synergies.

Collaboration with academia to drive societal impact

The IIT Kharagpur research facility will anchor TCS-funded programs that encourage collaboration between academic experts and industry practitioners. The centre also includes a customer experience facility designed to showcase original research concepts to clients across industries. Through collaborative workshops, TCS scientists, IIT KGP faculty, and domain experts will work together to address real-world challenges, with a focus on industries such as mobility, retail, and mining.

Professor Virendra Kumar Tewari, Director of IIT Kharagpur, stated that the partnership aims to merge IIT KGP’s research capabilities with TCS’s industry expertise. He noted that the centre’s work would focus on addressing pressing challenges in healthcare delivery and automation, driving transformative innovations with the potential to improve quality of life and advance intelligent systems.

Shaping the future of research and innovation

This partnership exemplifies TCS’s commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry. By investing in research and co-locating facilities within academic institutions, the company fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. The IIT Kharagpur facility sets the stage for similar initiatives in the future, empowering the next generation of researchers and technologists to shape the future of global innovation.