Michelin introduced the winners of its first AI Problem within the tyre expertise sector, held in collaboration with DPIIT and Startup India, geared toward fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in India’s AI startup ecosystem. The ceremony happened at IIT Delhi, recognising Kogo.ai, Prophecy, and Zangoh.ai for his or her notable contributions. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Michelin and DPIIT for continued help of innovation and entrepreneurship.The occasion was attended by Petros Sourmelis, Minister-Counsellor, Delegation of the EU to India and Bhutan, Marie Khater, Deputy Head of the Regional Financial Division for India and South Asia, Embassy of France, Dr. Ambica Rajagopal, Michelin Group’s Chief Information and AI Officer, and Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director of Michelin India.
Startups with innovation
Ten startups introduced their concepts on the occasion, the place they have been assessed by a panel comprising Michelin’s AI knowledge scientists, enterprise leaders, product managers, and builders. The three awarded startups may have alternatives to collaborate on strategic tasks and obtain mentorship.
Dr. Ambica Rajagopal mentioned, “The Michelin AI Startup Problem is designed to establish and help progressive startups to construct options utilizing AI brokers, LLMs, laptop imaginative and prescient, and robotics to boost manufacturing, product high quality, highway and pedestrian security, and learn how to use AI in a accountable, explainable and moral approach. By leveraging LLMs and generative AI, we aren’t simply automating workflows however enabling clever brokers to find optimum paths of motion by complicated decisions. These AI methods at the moment are capable of generate insights from distributed data, linking structured and unstructured knowledge to construct deeper fashions of buyer habits. The potential to unlock creativity and innovation has by no means been larger.”Marie Khater shared, “The work and actions engaged by Michelin in India embodies the profound and concrete partnership that our two international locations have on digital applied sciences. Not solely is Michelin an industrial group, one of many leaders in tyre manufacturing however the firm is deeply engaged in innovation and R&D, significantly within the digital house. I’m actually trying ahead to seeing how we will construct on present initiatives from French and Indian firms like this one to seek out synergies and strengthen our bilateral ties on innovation, notably within the perspective of the Indo-French 12 months of innovation in 2026.”
What was the problem?
The Michelin AI Problem was a 12-week initiative that concerned a number of phases together with outreach, purposes, shortlisting, and mentorship till September 2024, culminating in a grand finale with the shortlisted startups. The problem attracted 106 startups from throughout the nation, with round 60% from tier 1 and tier 2 cities, highlighting various AI options and bridging geographical limitations.
The highest ten startups showcased their tasks at a demo day at IIT Delhi. The three successful groups have been awarded paid pilot tasks from Michelin, with funding of as much as INR 5 lakh every. Moreover, the winners will achieve entry to international contracts and incubation help from Michelin management.
DPIIT has been energetic in mobilising startups within the manufacturing house and offering early-stage help important for his or her development. The Division is creating initiatives to bridge the hole between {industry} and startups by establishing incubators and incubation applications led by the {industry}. This initiative goals to empower manufacturing startups with progressive applied sciences and sustainable practices, enabling them to grow to be international market leaders by industry-supported incubation.
Shantanu Deshpande acknowledged, “At Michelin, our dedication to India is mirrored in our choice to ascertain our AI headquarters in Pune and in our continued partnership with the federal government by initiatives just like the MOU signed with DPIIT. We consider within the energy of collaboration, the place our international experience and mentorship, mixed with the federal government’s scale and imaginative and prescient, create a win-win state of affairs. We sincerely lengthen our gratitude to DPIIT for his or her invaluable help in making this problem successful.”
Petros Sourmelis remarked, “The AI Problem is a novel initiative of Michelin that goals to increase Information and AI capabilities and produce innovation to the forefront. That it has obtained 200+ purposes from startups throughout the nation speaks volumes in regards to the curiosity this program and its themes have generated. I hope this can give an enormous spur to industry-linked innovation and entrepreneurship within the nation.”
