Houston, US, Aug 23: The Texas AI Learning Centre, established in collaboration with the IIT Kharagpur Outreach Network, has been inaugurated at the Tagore Centre in Houston to promote artificial intelligence education, skill development and industry-oriented solutions. The centre aims to strengthen academic and technological collaboration between India and the United States while creating opportunities for professional training in emerging AI technologies.
The facility was inaugurated alongside celebrations marking India’s 80th Independence Day and the 75th anniversary of IIT Kharagpur. India’s Consul General in Houston, DC Manjunath, Tagore Centre Foundation co-founder and IIT Kharagpur Foundation President Dr Asoke Deysarkar, and IIT Kharagpur Director Prof Suman Chakraborty jointly launched the centre.
Consul General Manjunath highlighted the growing technology partnership between India and the US, saying that cooperation in artificial intelligence could create new opportunities for institutional collaboration. He also recalled the year-long efforts behind the initiative and expressed hope that the facility would eventually develop into a full-fledged overseas IIT Outreach Centre.
Prof Chakraborty said the centre could evolve into a broader Pan-IIT platform, bringing together alumni and global stakeholders. It is also expected to facilitate professional development programmes and help address complex challenges faced by industries.
US Consul General in Kolkata Kathy Giles-Diaz welcomed the academic collaboration through a video message, while HCL Tech co-founder and IIT alumnus Arjun Malhotra pledged support for expanding the centre’s reach.
The centre began operations with a two-day AI certificate bootcamp coordinated by Dr Debyajoti Banerjee, a professor at Texas A&M University. The inauguration was attended by IIT alumni, technology professionals, and officials from the office of Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones.
