Imperial College Launches India Hub, Doubles AI and Research Funding to $340M
Imperial College London has unveiled a bold initiative to double its research funding between the UK and India, targeting $340 million over the next five years. This announcement was made during the launch of the Imperial Global India Hub in Bengaluru, marking the fourth in a series of global research hubs after those in Singapore, San Francisco, and Accra.
The UK and India have committed $170 million toward a $340 million research hub in Bengaluru, focused on AI, quantum science, biotech, health-tech, climate change, and sustainability. Key partners include IISc, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and NCBS.
Strategic Focus
At the event, Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said, ““We aim to at least double our previous $170 million in research funding, leveraging opportunities from national funding agencies, philanthropies, and industry. A branch campus is not in our plans; our focus is on research and innovation.”
The Imperial Global India Hub will feature flagship programs including research projects in AI, quantum science, and clean energy, long-term collaborations with top Indian institutions, student scholarships, collaborative PhD programs, and fellowships in fields like AI, quantum science, and biotechnology.
New Initiatives
Imperial College launched new initiatives with India, including the India Connect Fund for 25 joint research projects annually, a scholarship program for 75 Indian STEM and business students, AI fellowships linking London and Bengaluru, and a Global Challenge Lab for collaborative student innovation on UN goals.
The research focuses on climate change and sustainability, food and water security, antimicrobial resistance, and advancements in AI and quantum technologies.
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Funding Sources
Prof. Brady revealed that funding for these initiatives will come from diverse sources, including Imperial’s seed funding, philanthropists supporting scholarships, industry partnerships like Tata Steel’s decarbonization program, research foundations such as the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI for Science programme, and potential support from UKRI, Horizon Europe, India’s National Research Foundation, and state-funded bodies like CSIR, DST, and DBT.
