Karnataka Cabinet approves ₹ 12 crore AI Center of Excellence at IIIT Raichur
The AI Center of Excellence at IIIT Raichur will develop AI-based solutions for key industries including agriculture, healthcare, education, SMEs and governance. | Photo credit: Getty Images
The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI) at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Raichur, with an outlay of ₹ 12 crore over five years, Minister for Home Affairs, Information Technology and Biotechnology and e-Governance Priyank Kharge said on Sunday.
The approval was given in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar under the Karnataka Government Business Rules Transaction 1977.
The project will be funded through ₹ 5 crore allocated in the 2026-27 state budget and ₹ 7 crore under the LEAP programme.
The AI Center of Excellence will act as a regional hub for the 13 districts of North Karnataka to decentralize Karnataka’s technology ecosystem outside Bengaluru by promoting AI education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship in tier 2 and 3 cities.
The center will develop AI-based solutions for key industries, including agriculture, healthcare, education, SMEs and governance. It will also establish artificial intelligence development labs, advanced computing infrastructure, prototyping facilities, skill development programs, start-up incubation, innovation support and regional initiatives.
The government will set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called IIIT Raichur ARIA (AI Research and Innovation Arena) to oversee the project. The initiative will be implemented in three phases, starting with the creation of infrastructure and progressing towards innovation, entrepreneurship and long-term self-sufficiency.
Mr. Kharge said the project would position Raichur and North Karnataka as a major hub for artificial intelligence, creating world-class opportunities for students, researchers, start-ups and industry.
Published – 19 Jul 2026 20:27 IST