New Delhi: The Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation (AISF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) to promote language technology, multilingual innovation, and digital inclusion across Assam.
The partnership between the Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation and DIBD aims to strengthen the state’s startup ecosystem by enabling multilingual access to digital services and fostering the adoption of Generative AI solutions in vernacular languages.
The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), functioning under the Digital India Corporation (DIC) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), entered into the agreement with the Assam Innovation & Startup Foundation (AISF), a Section 8 company operating under the Department of Innovation, Incubation and Start-ups (DIIS), Government of Assam.
The collaboration seeks to promote language technologies, multilingual digital solutions, artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship, startup ecosystem development, and capacity building.
Through this partnership, the Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation and DIBD will work towards expanding access to digital services and technological innovation through Indian languages.
Under the MoU, DIBD and AISF will collaborate through the BHASHINI Rajyam initiative to facilitate multilingual access to AISF programmes, initiatives, digital platforms, and services using BHASHINI technologies.
The Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation will work with DIBD to integrate Language Translation APIs into official platforms and services, enhance translation services in Assamese and other regional languages, develop reference applications and voice-enabled solutions, and support the collection, curation, and dissemination of linguistic data through Bhashadaan.
A major focus of the partnership is to strengthen Assam’s startup and innovation ecosystem by enabling startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, and academic institutions to leverage BHASHINI’s language technology stack to create innovative multilingual AI applications.
The Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation will encourage real-world deployment of language technologies across sectors while supporting the development of solutions tailored to local linguistic and regional requirements.
These deployments are expected to establish valuable feedback mechanisms that will contribute to the continuous improvement of language AI models.
The collaboration will also facilitate the creation and enrichment of linguistic datasets, enhancing the quality, accuracy, and inclusivity of language technologies while promoting innovation-led adoption across the state.
As part of the agreement, DIBD will provide AI-powered translation services across government platforms, customise models to capture regional dialects and linguistic nuances, continuously improve translation models through machine learning and user feedback, and offer technical support, training, dashboards, and assistance for integrating BHASHINI APIs and technologies.
Meanwhile, the Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation will identify linguistic needs, prioritise languages for translation services, support ecosystem participation, and foster collaboration among startups, innovators, researchers, and academic institutions.
The partnership is expected to strengthen Assam’s innovation ecosystem by encouraging the development of technology solutions that are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the linguistic diversity of the region.
It will further contribute to enhancing digital inclusion and expanding access to emerging technologies for citizens, entrepreneurs, and institutions.
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Additionally, both organisations may jointly undertake activities related to research, innovation, capacity building, ecosystem engagement, and the promotion of language technology initiatives that contribute to the growth of Assam’s digital and innovation landscape.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to create greater opportunities for citizens and institutions while accelerating the adoption of multilingual digital solutions across the state.
Speaking on the collaboration, Amitabh Nag, CEO, Digital India BHASHINI Division, said, “At BHASHINI, our vision is to ensure that language never becomes a barrier to participation in India’s digital transformation journey. Through this partnership with the Assam Innovation & Startup Foundation, we aim to empower startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs to build impactful multilingual AI solutions that address local needs and create real-world value.
By encouraging innovation, fostering ecosystem participation, and strengthening linguistic datasets through continuous feedback and adoption, we can collectively advance language technologies while building a more inclusive and connected digital future.”
