Microsoft And IIT Delhi Launched Unnati AI Accelerator For Tier-II and Tier-III Towns

Microsoft and the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT Delhi officially launched the Unnati AI Accelerator, a transformative CSR initiative aimed at driving AI-led social impact across Tier-II and Tier-III towns in India.

Focused on sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and sustainability, the initiative is designed to empower innovators with funding, mentorship, infrastructure, and market access to foster sustainable AI deployment and inclusive economic growth.

At the heart of the program lies a commitment to building AI agents, contributing datasets, and nurturing a pipeline of rural AI talent—enabling both social transformation and enterprise adoption. Unnati AI Accelerator envisions a future where India’s smaller towns are active contributors to the global AI revolution.

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Unnati AI Accelerator has invited applications – unnatiai.fitt.iitd.in – from startups, students, and developers across India to join this mission. Innovators in healthcare, agriculture, education, and sustainability are encouraged to apply for a structured accelerator path featuring bootcamps, expert guidance, and demo days. Partners, including mentors and corporates, are also invited to collaborate in shaping India’s AI-driven future.

India stands at the cusp of a generative AI (GenAI) revolution—one that has the potential to transform industries, spur innovation, and add up to $1.5 trillion to the national GDP by 2030. As highlighted in EY’s report The AIdea of India, the momentum is strong. Unnati builds on this foundation, supporting emerging entrepreneurs in harnessing cutting-edge technology to solve the nation’s most pressing challenges.

Ms. Aparna Gupta, Global Delivery Center Leader Microsoft India, remarked, “India’s startup ecosystem is vibrant, driving cutting-edge work across sectors. Microsoft India invests in and empowers startups through various sectors nationwide. The launch of Unnati AI with FITT IIT Delhi reflects our commitment to responsible and inclusive AI. This initiative, aligned with the IndiaAI Mission, aims to empower innovators in Tier-II and Tier-III towns to address critical issues in healthcare, education, agriculture, and sustainability. By nurturing rural talent and supporting local entrepreneurs, Unnati will drive inclusive growth and societal progress.”

Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director and President, Microsoft IDC, said, “Microsoft believes that AI’s transformative power must reach every corner of India to truly unlock its potential. The Unnati AI Accelerator brings this vision to life by democratizing access to AI innovation and nurturing AI talent in Tier-II and Tier-III regions. By equipping developers and entrepreneurs in these areas with advanced tools, mentorship, and infrastructure, we are enabling them to solve for India’s unique challenges and scale their solutions globally. This reinforces our commitment to fostering an inclusive and innovative AI ecosystem in India, that empowers individuals, businesses, and communities.”

Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, stated, “IIT Delhi is keen to enable ideas and innovations to help transform society and solve problems of hunger, climate change and healthcare. We are excited about our new Unnati AI Accelerator and hope that we will catalyse the power of AI for good and enable new breakthroughs and startups with national and global impact.”

Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Director of FITT IIT Delhi, shared, “India’s AI startup landscape is booming with innovation across agriculture, healthcare, education, and sustainability. Our partnership with Microsoft through Unnati AI—an initiative inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call for grassroots innovation—will accelerate this momentum. ”

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Mr Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, shared, “India’s vision for artificial intelligence, as outlined in the National AI Mission, is to create a robust and inclusive innovation ecosystem that not only advances technological development but also ensures societal impact. Initiatives like Unnati AI play a critical role in realizing this vision by identifying and nurturing grassroots innovators and startups, particularly from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.”

Unnati AI Accelerator, a collaboration between Microsoft and FITT IIT Delhi, empowers Tier 2/3 innovators to drive AI-based social impact in healthcare, agriculture, education, and sustainability. By providing funding, mentorship, infrastructure, and market access, it aims to build a sustainable AI ecosystem that enhances economic opportunities and fosters inclusive growth.