Bosch opens center for data science and artificial intelligence at IIT Madras

• Vision is to be a world leader in data science research
• Center established with planned investment of 20 crores (2.5 million Euros) over five years
• Research in deep learning, reinforcement learning, network analysis, interpretable machine learning and domain aware AI

Chennai – The Robert Bosch Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBC-DSAI) was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) today. “Artificial Intelligence is a core technology for all areas of connected life – from connected mobility to buildings, factories, and cities. The expertise of our Indian engineers contributes to expanding the AI skills set of Bosch,” said Dr. Michael Bolle, member of Bosch’s board of management, during the opening ceremony. Bosch will invest 20 crores (2.5 million euros) over five years in the center. The mission of the new center is to create societal impact through multidisciplinary interactions with government, academic, research and industrial collaborators on core challenges in Data Science (DS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The RBC-DSAI will undertake foundational research in many areas of AI and Data Science, namely deep learning, reinforcement learning, network analytics, interpretable machine learning, and domain aware AI. The areas of activity include research projects, knowledge management and dissemination, outreach projects, and setting up collaborative facilities and laboratories. “The center’s mandate requires interaction with industry and other universities, including international student and faculty exchanges. The objective is to advance scientific innovation for societal benefit,” says Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT-Madras.

Applied research will begin in four verticals: manufacturing analytics, financial analytics, smart cities, systems biology and health care. Several technologies currently require large datasets to improve their accuracy and to adapt these technologies for the Indian context. There are basic issues in the way we collect and share data; these need to be solved in a collective and open-sourced manner. To address this issue, Prof. B. Ravindran, who heads RBC-DSAI, says, “The center, in addition to fundamental research, is setting out on an ambitious task of creating a portal of curated, India specific data sets that are easy to access and interpret through a set of open tools and interfaces.”

Deep Reinforcement Learning is at the cutting edge of the new AI revolution and is responsible for the many path-breaking developments in AI recently. RBC-DSAI has the largest Deep Reinforcement Learning group in India. Researchers at RBC-DSAI are also looking at networked data across different disciplines – biology, transportation, water distribution, process modelling, online social media, telecom, and reaction networks. “Bosch has funded two important technology areas with Cyber Physical Systems and Data Sciences & AI at IISc (Indian Institute of Science) and IIT-M. By working together and conducting aligned R&D activities, they could accelerate major breakthroughs which will have wider societal impact,” says Dr. Vijendran Venkoparao, head of technology strategy and university relations at Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions. “This collaboration between Bosch and IIT-M takes a long term view for India. It uses big data and artificial intelligence to accelerate positive impact for society”, says Vijay Ratnaparkhe, president and managing director at Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions.

India is one of four locations of Bosch Center for AI

In the future, artificial intelligence will be a key component of Bosch products. All products will either possess that intelligence themselves, or AI will have played a key role in their development or manufacture. The company founded the Bosch Center for Artificial intelligence (BCAI) in 2017 to expand its AI skills set. Bosch is investing some 300 million euros until 2021 into the BCAI. The center was established across three continents and one of the center’s four locations is right here in Bengaluru. Two further branches are located in the U.S.A. – in Sunnyvale, California, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – and a third in Renningen, Germany. Bosch applies AI to optimize processes in manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain management, and to enable intelligent services.

Contact for IIT-M: Contact for Robert Bosch:

Sairam Radhakrishnan
Phone: +91 9840108083
Mail: sairam.radhakrishnan@footprintglobal.com

Muthamma Acharya
Phone: +91 98456 33932
Mail: muthamma.acharya@in.bosch.com

About IITM (www.iitm.ac.in)Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) was established in 1959 by the Government of India as an institute of national importance. The activities of the Institute in various fields of Technology and Science are carried out in 16 academic departments and several advanced interdisciplinary Research Academic Centers. The Institute offers undergraduate and post - graduate programmes leading to the B.Tech., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.Tech., M.S., and Ph.D., degrees in a variety of specialisations. IITM is a residential institute with more than 550 faculty and 9000 students. Students from 18 countries are enrolled here. IITM fosters an active entrepreneurial culture with strong curricular support and through the IITM Incubation Cell (www.incubation.iitm.ac.in). IITM has been ranked No.1 among Engineering Institutions in the India Rankings for three consecutive years – 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Institute was also ranked as the No.2 in the category of Overall Institutions in 2017 and 2018 Rankings, released by the National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India- https://www.nirfindia.org
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About the Bosch GroupThe Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 410,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2018). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales from operations of 77.9 billion euros in 2018. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT company, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected manufacturing. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 125 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 69,500 associates in research and development.

Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com,www.iot.bosch.com, www.boschpress.com, www.twitter.com/BoschPresse.

About RBEI:Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Private Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, one of the world's leading global supplier of technology and services, offering end-to-end Engineering, IT and Business Solutions. With over 19,000 associates, it’s the largest software development center of Bosch, outside Germany, indicating that it is the Technology Powerhouse of Bosch in India with a global footprint and presence in the US, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. About Bosch in India In India, Bosch is a leading supplier of technology and services in the areas of Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. Additionally, Bosch has in India the largest development center outside Germany, for end to end engineering and technology solutions. The Bosch Group operates in India through twelve companies, viz, Bosch Limited, Bosch Chassis Systems India Private Limited, Bosch Rexroth India Private Limited, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Private Limited, Bosch Automotive Electronics India Private Limited, Bosch Electrical Drives India Private Limited, BSH Home Appliances Private Limited, ETAS Automotive India Private Limited, Robert Bosch Automotive Steering India Private Limited, Automobilty Services and Solutions Private Limited, New Tech Filters India Private Limited and Mivin Engineering Technologies Private Limited. In India, Bosch set-up its manufacturing operation in 1951, which has grown over the years to include 18 manufacturing sites, and seven development and application centers. Bosch Group in India employs over 31,000 associates and generated consolidated revenue of about ₨.19,204 crores* (2.61 billion euros) in 2017 of which ₨. 13,790 crores*(1.88 billion euros) from third party. The Group in India has close to 18,000 research and development associates.

In India, Bosch Limited is the flagship company of the Bosch Group. It earned revenue of over ₨. 10,842 crores (1.47 billion euros) in 2017. Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.in