Microsoft and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have joined forces to enhance support for AI startups in India.

 India, in collaboration with Microsoft, initiated an AI program aimed at identifying and nurturing promising AI startups within the country, according to a statement from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Microsoft, in partnership with iCreate, a non-academic Indian institution supporting tech startups, launched the iCreate-Microsoft program for Emerging Leaders in Artificial Intelligence (iMPEL-AI). The program aims to evaluate 1,100 AI innovators nationwide, focusing on priority sectors such as Healthcare, Financial Inclusion, Sustainability, Education, Agriculture, and Smart Cities. Among these, 100 startups will be selected and provided support to develop their businesses using Azure OpenAI, with the top 25 receiving additional assistance from Microsoft's Global Network to enhance their competitiveness. Additionally, Microsoft and iCreate will offer AI training opportunities to 11,000 individuals, startups, and young Indians through Microsoft's Learning Management System, leading to globally recognized certifications upon completion. This collaboration reflects Microsoft's keen interest in India's AI industry, as stated by CEO Satya Nadella on February 8, when he announced the company's collaboration with Indian generative AI startup Sarvam AI to integrate its Indic voice large language model (LLM) into Azure.