Gandhinagar, March 18 (NationPress) The state of Gujarat has launched an extensive financial support initiative aimed at artificial intelligence (AI) startups while revealing plans for a new 'Sovereign AI Park'. This announcement came during a meeting led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel with various emerging technology enterprises in Gandhinagar.

During this startup dialogue, organized by the Science and Technology Department at the Chief Minister's residence, approximately 24 promising startups from across the nation showcased their innovations and products.

These startups covered diverse sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, governance, and industry, with a focus on five startups in agriculture, three in healthcare, six in education, and around 10 in governmental and industrial domains.

While addressing attendees, Patel emphasized the state's commitment to fostering partnerships with innovative startups.

“We are dedicated to prioritizing talented startups to foster innovation and entrepreneurship,” he stated.

He continued by noting that the integration of AI would be expanded to enhance the efficiency of government operations, improve transparency, and ensure that citizens quickly receive the benefits of public schemes.

Highlighting Gujarat’s technological advancements, he remarked that the groundwork laid during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure had enabled the swift adoption of new technologies while upholding financial discipline.

“Gujarat is progressing towards sustainable development through emerging sectors such as AI, semiconductors, and green growth,” he highlighted.

The government also introduced a structured financial support model as part of its AI Innovation Challenge to aid startups from the proof-of-concept (PoC) phase to full-scale implementation.

Startups will receive direct financial support for PoC development, determined by the complexity of their use cases. Funding will be available up to Rs 7.5 lakh for moderate projects and up to Rs 10 lakh for complex projects, provided in stages, with 25% released upon selection and the remaining 75% following successful PoC completion.

Startups that successfully complete the PoC phase will qualify for additional support for full-scale implementation, with the government offering up to Rs 50 lakh for moderate projects and up to Rs 1 crore for complex projects, which will encompass implementation, customization, feature enhancement, and ongoing support.

The scheme extends support for up to four years, including access to infrastructure at the Gujarat State Data Centre and the AI Centre of Excellence.

CM Patel stated, “Accelerating government processes through AI, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that benefits reach citizens promptly are our primary goals.”

He further stressed that maintaining quality is crucial in technology-driven development, and aligning efforts across all stakeholders is vital to achieving the state’s objectives.

During the event, an MoU was signed with Sarvam AI and startup MIKO. This agreement facilitates the establishment of a Sovereign AI Park in Gujarat.

The planned facility will function as an integrated campus featuring advanced computing infrastructure, research and innovation centers, skill development programs for youth, AI-driven solutions for governance, and technologies aimed at enhancing citizen services.

Officials anticipate that this project will create substantial employment opportunities over the next five years and contribute to building a robust ecosystem for AI and emerging technologies in the region.

The government will support the project by expediting approvals and clearances and providing policy assistance while coordinating with relevant departments to ensure timely execution.

Patel also indicated that the state is prepared to assist startups that enhance administrative efficiency and public welfare, noting that a unified direction and collaborative effort are essential for achieving desired outcomes.

The dialogue also highlighted emerging opportunities within sectors like AI, drones, healthcare, agriculture, cybersecurity, sustainability, and enterprise technologies, with the government asserting that such engagements would improve efficiency, transparency, and service delivery across various departments.