Industrial AI CoE
Joint initiativeProgramme partners
Current phase · Data and SIM Kit accessReport · 5 October 2026Site updated 7 October 2026

IAIRO + IBM • Industrial AI Centre of Excellence

Industrial AI,
built together.

Executive summary

IAIRO and IBM have aligned the Industrial AI CoE architecture and platform roles. Windmill, Pharma QC and industrial asset failure prediction are discussed PoC use cases; pilot selection remains in progress. The IAIRO and IBM teams are working with NPC to obtain SIM Kit and industrial data access. Dedicated CoE infrastructure is required for DST-aligned governance, data sovereignty and security. IBM software access remains under review and activation depends on infrastructure availability. DST cannot currently provide the requested infrastructure; the MeitY/IndiaAI route is being pursued subject to approvals and resources.

01MoU & public launchCoE partnership formalised and publicly announced.
03Joint working sessionsPlatforms, architecture, data, and delivery model aligned.
03Discussed PoC use casesWindmill, Pharma QC and industrial asset failure prediction; pilot selection remains in progress.
04Roadmap phasesData and infrastructure, predictive maintenance, governance and security, reusable accelerators.

Complementary strengths

From signals to action

The target architecture combines IAIRO’s industrial intelligence with IBM’s asset operations, engineering lifecycle and security platforms, connecting industrial data with insights and Maximo actions.

01

Industrial data

The target design connects industrial assets through SIM Kit / OT data. The IAIRO and IBM teams are working with NPC to obtain the required SIM Kit and dataset access.

02

IAIRO intelligence

IAIRO’s SAMVIT-I platform is in advanced development, supporting knowledge graphs, AI models, anomaly detection, root-cause analysis, predictive analytics, and recommendations.

03

IBM operations

Maximo is the system of execution for asset management, monitoring, work orders, preventive maintenance, reliability strategy, standard operating procedures, and safety.

04

Governed outcomes

QRadar and IBM ELM strengthen security, requirements, testing, compliance, and lifecycle traceability.

The integration is API-first and loosely coupled. IBM ELM supports requirements, testing, traceability and engineering governance; QRadar supports cybersecurity, threat detection and OT monitoring. DST facilitates government stakeholder discussions and infrastructure-route coordination.

Joint progress to date

Joint work to date

Joint work has covered the partnership announcement, platform roles, target architecture, industrial data requirements and proposed PoC use cases.

Partnership formalised

IBM, IAIRO, and the Government of Gujarat formalised and publicly outlined plans for an Industrial AI Centre of Excellence.

Read coverage

Working model aligned

High-level joint planning and target architecture are complete, mapping the roles of Maximo, SAMVIT-I, QRadar, and IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management.

PoC use cases discussed

Windmill, Pharma QC and failure prediction for common industrial asset classes are discussed PoC use cases. Selection of the pilot customer and first use case remains in progress.

Data-access route progressing

The teams have defined pilot data requirements: consistently sampled time-series readings and normal operating ranges for each component, aligned with specific failure modes and asset conditions. The IAIRO and IBM teams are working with the National Productivity Council (NPC) to obtain SIM Kit access, industrial datasets and MSME use cases. Access, dataset delivery and permissions remain pending.

Compute route clarified

The joint compute and storage requirements are consolidated. Dedicated CoE infrastructure is required for tighter governance and control aligned with DST requirements, safeguarding data sovereignty and security. DST cannot currently provision the requested infrastructure. The MeitY/IndiaAI route is being pursued with DST coordination, subject to approvals and resource availability.

Roadmap prepared

The four-phase roadmap covers data, infrastructure and pilot selection; predictive maintenance; ELM governance and QRadar security; and reusable industry accelerators.

Use cases under discussion

Industrial PoC use cases

Windmill and Pharma QC were previously discussed in August. Industrial asset failure prediction is also proposed using Maximo and SAMVIT. Data access and pilot selection remain in progress.

Windmill

IAIRO requested sanitised Windmill data for a possible Maximo-to-Samvit demonstration covering rare-exception detection, root-cause analysis and future failure prediction.

Pharma QC

The discussion noted that existing process data was largely unlabelled and proposed studying known failure modes and generating synthetic anomalies and cascading failures for a working demonstration. IAIRO requested IBM or partner QC time-series data or guidance on relevant failure scenarios.

Industrial assets

The proposed use case is to build failure-prediction models for common industrial asset classes using IBM Maximo and IAIRO’s SAMVIT AI platform capabilities.

Compressors · Pumps · Motors · Gearboxes · UPS and batteries · Bearings

Data requiredAccess to representative Industrial IoT and maintenance data streams is required to develop, train and validate the predictive models and progress this use case for real-world use.

Programme timeline

From intent to pilot readiness

Joint meetings, programme deliverables and current work from June to October 2026.

View the complete dated record20 milestones · June–October 2026
  1. Technology showcase and white-paper exchange

    IAIRO, IBM and DST held a joint meeting. IAIRO shared its Industrial AI framing and exchanged the white paper with IBM at the India Software Lab in GIFT City.

    Completed
  2. MoU signed and CoE plans announced

    The partnership was formalised during the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Vadodara and entered the public domain through joint media engagement.

    Completed
  3. DST engagement and infrastructure guidance

    The team met Gujarat DST in person and received preliminary guidance on the infrastructure-support pathway.

    Completed
  4. MSME and industry ecosystem engagement

    The team met the MSME Commissioner and secured a route into the NPC and wider industry ecosystem for use-case and data discussions.

    Completed
  5. Policy chatbot opportunity identified

    A support opportunity was identified for the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2026 chatbot alongside the industrial pilot track.

    Completed
  6. Maximo–SAMVIT architecture defined

    The teams mapped industrial asset data and SAMVIT intelligence into Maximo actions and operational workflows.

    Completed
  7. Infrastructure and platform requirements consolidated

    IAIRO prepared the infrastructure-request inputs while the teams assessed IBM ELM and QRadar capabilities for governance and security.

    Completed
  8. Windmill and Pharma QC data requests sent

    IAIRO requested sanitised Windmill data for a possible Maximo-to-Samvit demonstration and Pharma QC data or guidance on relevant failure scenarios. These were discussed PoC use cases; pilot selection remains in progress.

    Completed
  9. Joint architecture and pilot workshop

    The workshop aligned platform roles and the target architecture and discussed industrial data and use cases across pharma, manufacturing, power, oil and gas, and chemicals. Selecting the first industry and MSME participant remained an action item.

    Completed
  10. Director ICT roadmap meeting

    The programme met Director ICT Kavita Shah (IAS) to advance the Industrial AI CoE roadmap.

    Completed
  11. Infrastructure blueprint submitted

    The consolidated compute and storage plan was shared with Gujarat DST for guidance on next steps.

    Completed
  12. IBM legal discussions began

    Discussions with IBM Brand legal and ISA legal began for the software required to support the CoE. The document was prepared and review commenced.

    Review commenced
  13. MSME and NPC data-access session scheduled

    A follow-up at the MSME office was planned to progress industrial data access, an NPC workshop, and use-case access; the outcome remains unconfirmed.

    Outcome pending
  14. i4Gujarat opportunity set shared

    IAIRO shared the SIM understanding note and industrial challenge-problem set with IBM.

    Completed
  15. Funding position reviewed

    The weekly tracker continued to record the IBM Lab / Industrial AI CoE funding route as under discussion.

    Open
  16. Software-access agreement received

    IBM supplied the software-access agreement for IAIRO review. Agreement finalisation and platform activation remain pending; activation depends on dedicated infrastructure availability.

    In review
  17. MeitY/IndiaAI infrastructure route identified

    Gujarat DST advised pursuing the required compute and server infrastructure through MeitY/IndiaAI, with DST facilitating coordination subject to applicable approvals and resources.

    Route clarified
  18. Pilot and industrial-data priorities reaffirmed

    SAMVIT-I is in advanced development. NPC discussions are progressing industrial data and use-case access; the first customer, dataset, and success criteria remain next milestones.

    In progress
  19. January 2027 showcase concept submitted

    An Applied AI Showcase concept was submitted after IAIRO was asked to organise a Vibrant Gujarat AI seminar in January 2027. Format, slot, partners, and pilot readiness are still to be confirmed.

    Planning
  20. NPC SIM Kit and data access in progress

    The IAIRO and IBM teams are working with NPC to obtain access to the SIM Kit and relevant datasets for the CoE pilots.

    In progress

Advancing the joint programme

Shared execution priorities

Work continues on SIM Kit and industrial data access, pilot selection, dedicated CoE infrastructure and IBM software access.

Decision pending

First customer-backed pilot

Pilot selection is in progress. The first industry, MSME participant, use case and success criteria remain to be agreed.

Awaiting input

SIM Kit and industrial data access

The IAIRO and IBM teams are working with NPC to obtain SIM Kit access, industrial datasets and MSME use cases. Access, dataset delivery and permissions remain pending. Data must include consistently sampled time-series readings and normal component operating ranges aligned with specific failure modes and asset conditions.

Provisioning pending

MeitY/IndiaAI compute route

Dedicated CoE infrastructure is required for DST-aligned governance and control, data sovereignty and security. DST cannot currently provision it. The MeitY/IndiaAI route is being pursued with DST coordination; allocation and provisioning remain subject to resources and approvals.

Proposed scope

Proposed end-to-end PoC

The proposed flow connects SIM Kit data to SAMVIT-I knowledge graphs, health and risk scores, alerts and root-cause analysis, then to Maximo work orders and maintenance actions.

Under discussion

Delivery and funding arrangements

The CoE-specific funding and commercial arrangements remain to be confirmed. The MeitY/IndiaAI infrastructure route does not itself establish a compute allocation or funding commitment.

Review in progress

Software access and governance

IBM supplied a software-access agreement on 15 September for review. Agreement finalisation and activated Maximo, QRadar and ELM access remain under discussion. Platform activation depends on dedicated infrastructure availability.

Next joint phase

Deliver the first joint proof

The programme roadmap covers four phases, beginning with data access, infrastructure and pilot customer selection.

Secure data and select the pilot

Progress NPC SIM Kit and industrial data access, select the pilot customer and use case, secure dedicated CoE infrastructure and obtain the required IBM software access.

Deliver predictive maintenance

Build the asset knowledge graph and health models, generate health and risk scores and alerts, and demonstrate predictive maintenance with root-cause analysis and Maximo workflow for the selected use case.

Add governance and security

Apply IBM ELM for requirements and traceability, with QRadar for cyber and OT monitoring.

Build reusable accelerators

Build reusable industry accelerators.

Programme engagements

A selected-participant MSME / NPC roundtable or workshop is part of the event plan. IAIRO has submitted an Applied AI Showcase concept following the request to organise a January 2027 Vibrant Gujarat AI seminar; the format, slot and partners remain unconfirmed.

An update is requested for 8 October ahead of IBM’s proposed CoE discussion on 9 October at 10:45 at KTPO, subject to meeting confirmation.