Nvidia Co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang addressed journalists during a trip to Beijing in July.
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
Nvidia is significantly expanding its footprint in India’s burgeoning deep tech ecosystem, joining the India Deep Tech Alliance (IDTA) as a founding member and committing to train and mentor emerging startups. This move underscores the growing importance of India as a global hub for technological innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence and related fields.
The IDTA represents a substantial commitment of $2 billion from private equity and venture capital investors dedicated to fueling the growth of deep tech companies, encompassing sectors like semiconductors, space technology, AI, biotech, robotics, and renewable energy. Nvidia’s involvement signals a strategic alignment with this initiative, leveraging its expertise to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies within India.
As part of its contribution, Nvidia will provide technical expertise and training through its Nvidia Deep Learning Institute to promising Indian startups. This educational component is crucial for equipping these companies with the skills and knowledge necessary to compete on a global scale. The curriculum will likely cover areas such as AI model development, deployment, and optimization, as well as best practices for responsible AI development.
According to Vishal Dhupar, Nvidia’s managing director of South Asia, the company aims to “provide guidance on AI systems, developer enablement, and responsible deployment, and to collaborate with policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs.” This statement highlights Nvidia’s holistic approach, emphasizing not only technical capabilities but also the importance of ethical and societal considerations in AI development.
While Nvidia has not disclosed specific financial investments, timelines, or training targets, its commitment to the IDTA signifies a long-term vision for the Indian market. Sriram Viswanathan, a founding executive council member of the IDTA, noted that “Nvidia’s depth of expertise in AI systems, software, and ecosystem-building will benefit our network of investors and entrepreneurs.” He anticipates a surge in innovation within India, foreseeing the emergence of “a significant number of Indian deep tech companies of global repute” within the next five years.
The Indian government is actively fostering this growth through substantial investments in research and development. Initiatives such as the AI Mission, with a budget exceeding 100 billion rupees ($1.1 billion USD), and the Research, Development and Innovation Scheme Fund, allocating 1 trillion rupees ($11.2 billion), demonstrate a commitment to creating a supportive environment for deep tech companies.
Further solidifying India’s position as a key player in the global AI landscape, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that the country will host the AI Impact Summit in February of the coming year. This event is expected to attract global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind. The summit will provide a platform for discussing the future of AI, showcasing Indian innovation, and fostering international collaborations.
Nvidia’s strategic investment in India aligns with a broader trend of increasing global interest in the country’s rapidly expanding AI market. With a large and growing user base, India represents a significant opportunity for companies seeking to capitalize on the potential of AI. Competition is intensifying, as evidenced by Google’s recent pledge of $15 billion to establish an AI hub in Visakhapatnam. This heightened activity underscores the strategic importance of India as a key battleground for leadership in the AI revolution, and Nvidia is positioning itself to be a major player in this transformative landscape.
