The Ashwin Mittal Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with a deep commitment towards the upliftment of communities through support for social and educational causes, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai, a leading management education institute to set up the “Ashwin Mittal Center of Excellence in Advanced AI solutions for Business Decisions”. Ashwin Mittal is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder and executive chairman of C5i, a leading global Artificial Intelligence & Analytics solutions provider that drives business impact through a combination of human expertise and AI. C5i caters to some of the world’s largest enterprises, including several Fortune 500 companies, and has a presence in India, US, Canada, UK, UAE, and Singapore.
The CoE will promote research, innovation and collaboration with an initial focus on the transformative impact of technologies such as large language models, machine learning, knowledge graphs, predictive analytics, and other methodologies used in enhancing decision making processes in business, trade, and commerce.
“As an entrepreneur, I believe that bringing about a positive impact in society begins with enriching an individual’s life, who then will go on to change the lives of their family and community. Having founded and grown my Analytics & AI company, C5i, which provides AI solutions to global clients, I know that leveraging AI technology in decision-making will be the key to success in the business world in the coming years. I have been impressed with the path-breaking work that IIM Mumbai is doing in AI & Analytics research. The Centre of Excellence will be a fertile ground for the young minds at IIM Mumbai where they will collaborate, innovate, and learn to work on AI-driven solutions that can be used in the real world, in business, entrepreneurship, and social impact. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Director of IIM Mumbai for giving us this opportunity to participate in our joint vision to nurture young minds with the power of AI technology,” said Ashwin Mittal, Founder, AM Foundation.
According to the MoU, IIM Mumbai and AM Foundation will focus on the facilitation, development, and promotion of advanced R&D and innovation emerging from the CoE. Students will have access to necessary resources to focus on the transformative impact of technologies—such as large language models (LLMs), natural language processing, knowledge graphs, and predictive analytics—that enhance business decision-making processes. The AM Foundation will provide upfront and annual funding over four years and IIM Mumbai will provide the facilities, infrastructure, and faculty.
Prof. Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Director, IIM Mumbai, said, “The Centre of Excellence will empower students and faculty to address complex challenges in business and commerce by leveraging AI’s transformative potential. Building on the success of our Data Science Lab, established in 2021, this collaboration will position IIM Mumbai at the forefront of AI and Analytics innovation. It will create opportunities to develop real-world, data-driven solutions with wide-reaching impact across industries and communities. This partnership will inspire young minds to push boundaries, foster entrepreneurial spirit, and cement IIM Mumbai’s reputation as a leader in cutting-edge research and education. We thank Mr. Ashwin Mittal for his visionary leadership and for aligning with IIM Mumbai’s mission to advance knowledge with purpose.”
The CoE will provide inputs to the curriculum for the education programs that will be conducted by the IIM Mumbai faculty. Training programs will cover topics in business analytics, artificial intelligence, logistics & supply chain management, behavioral analytics, consumer insights, and leadership. They will be delivered with the aim to transform the CoE into a globally recognized AI-driven R&D hub for AI and Generative AI applications, particularly in SCM, Marketing, Finance, HR, and Organizational Behavior. The COE will also focus across domains such as healthcare, education, logistics, and agriculture for business applications and benefits to society in India and other developing countries.