The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) launches the ‘AI Gamechangers’ program to improve AI innovations in India. NASSCOM has joined hands with Microsoft, which will be the ‘Innovation Partner’ of the program. According to NASSCOM, the program seeks to recognize impactful and scalable AI-based innovation in the country.

In the aftermath of the partnership, NASSCOM and Microsoft will work closely to develop and promote the AI Gamechangers program. The companies have also elucidated that the program will recognize innovators for their successful AI implementation at NASSCOM’s Xperience AI Summit, one of the largest AI Summits in India. This will serve as a platform for startups, enterprises, academia, governments, and NGOs to showcase their AI based products and solutions, providing reach and impetus to drive AI innovation for the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, said, “The past decades have seen a dramatic growth of innovation and talent in India. While the country continues to leap forward to become the global innovation hub, we expect AI to unlock $500 Bn of value to India’s GDP by 2025. Through this program, we aim to spotlight some of the leading AI-based innovations in the country, not only to recognize their efforts but to motivate the larger ecosystem to leverage this opportunity to help India become a global powerhouse in AI-led innovation.”

Sharing his thoughts on the program, Anant Maheshwari, President – Microsoft India, said, “Cloud led data and AI innovation offers a huge canvas for India to be the tech engine of the world and drive homegrown innovation. Data and AI are driving transformation at scale across industries and offer a tremendous opportunity to transform public infrastructure and solve some of the most critical issues facing the country today. We are proud to partner with NASSCOM on the AI Gamechangers program to create a strong ecosystem that recognizes and supports AI led innovation in the country.”

NASSCOM also explained that the entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of industry leaders and subject matter experts on three primary aspects of problem selection, solution innovation, and impact achieved. The nomination window will be open from March 4-April 16, 2021, which will be followed by screening and the final presentations to the Steering Committee and the expert panel.