Patna: The state govt on Tuesday signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 468 crore with different companies in the technology sector on the second day of the AI Impact Summit and Expo in New Delhi.The MoUs include the establishment of a research park in Patna at a cost of Rs 250 crore and a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the IIT campus in Bihta at a cost of Rs 60 crore.MoUs were also signed with GCC and IT units such as Red Cyber (Rs 103 crore), GrowQR (Rs 30 crore) and CIPL (Rs 25 crore) under the Bihar GCC Policy 2026 and Bihar IT Policy 2024.The state govt has recently approved the Bihar GCC Policy 2026 and the Bihar Semiconductor Policy 2026 with the objective of positioning the state as a global technology hub for eastern and northeastern India. It has also undertaken key initiatives such as a Mega AI Core of Engineering under the Bihar AI Mission to develop Bihar as a technology hub.The new agreements are expected to generate direct employment for over 10,000 people in the AI sector. They are also projected to strengthen innovation, investment and employment in emerging technologies. More than 50,000 youth will receive AI-based skill training.CEOs of over 100 technology companies and representatives from 135 countries are participating in the five-day summit. Heads of at least 20 states and ministers from more than 50 countries are also attending. The summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The state govt also set up the Bihar Pavilion at Bharat Mandapam, which was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday. Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh attended as chief guest. IT minister Shreyasi Singh, industries minister Dilip Jaiswal, JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Kumar Jha, chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit, additional chief secretary (GAD) B Rajender, secretary (industries) Kundan Kumar and secretary (IT) Abhay Kumar Singh were present.The programme was conducted under the chairmanship of Union textiles minister Giriraj Singh.“Bihar offers a positive environment for investments in semiconductor and IT sectors. By leveraging AI, our state wants to contribute towards ‘Viksit Bharat’. The people from Bihar are making AI successful across the world. We have established policies on this and are working on it through the Centre of Excellence at IIT-Patna,” said Samrat.Tiger Analytics will serve as the industry partner and IIT Patna as the academic partner at the AI Centre of Excellence.Union minister Giriraj Singh said, “We have started working on AI in panchayats, and it is strengthening the entire panchayat system, bringing transparency to it, and improving the ways they carry out their work. AI technology is also helpful in the agriculture sector; new technologies are emerging in animal husbandry and fisheries as well.”Dismissing concerns over job losses, he added, “In fact, AI will increase employment opportunities.”
