New partnerships include a 50MW national compute hub and India’s first Sovereign AI Research Park, accelerating population-scale AI adoption.
In a major step toward India’s digital and AI sovereignty, Indian AI startup Sarvam AI has announced strategic partnerships with the state governments of Odisha and Tamil Nadu to build large-scale sovereign AI infrastructure, including high-capacity compute facilities and Indian language AI systems.
The collaborations aim to create a national AI compute grid and state-led AI ecosystems that keep data, models, and intelligence within India—while ensuring that AI benefits reach over a billion citizens in their native languages.
As artificial intelligence evolves from a specialised capability into core public infrastructure, these initiatives signal a shift in how Indian states approach technology—moving away from dependence on external platforms and toward a self-reliant, full-stack Indian AI ecosystem.
Announcing the partnerships, Pratyush Kumar, CEO of Sarvam AI, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “The aim of these partnerships is to drive transformation by building at-scale compute, sovereign models, and the institutional capacity required to accelerate AI adoption.”
Odisha to Host 50MW AI-Optimised Compute Facility
On February 6, 2026, the Government of Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sarvam AI to develop a 50MW AI-optimised compute facility, positioning the state as a key node in India’s national AI infrastructure.
Traditionally known for its mining and industrial base, Odisha is now reimagining itself as a hub for digital intelligence and advanced computing.
The facility will serve two strategic roles:
State Public Utility:
Deployment of Vision AI to improve safety in mining and heavy industries, along with Odia-to-English voice-based AI tools to enhance employability and digital skills among youth.
National Compute Backbone:
Acting as an anchor for a nationwide AI compute grid, providing production-grade capacity to other states and national digital platforms.
Anu Garg, Chief Secretary of Odisha, described the shift from a “mine-driven” to a “mind-driven” economy as aligned with India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Tamil Nadu Launches ‘Digital Sangam’, India’s First Sovereign AI Research Park
In southern India, Tamil Nadu has partnered with Sarvam AI and IIT Madras to launch Digital Sangam, India’s first Sovereign AI Research Park. The initiative will include a 20MW AI-optimised data centre and serve as a physical ecosystem where research, startup incubation, and advanced compute infrastructure coexist.
Driving India’s Sovereign AI and Digital Public Infrastructure Vision
At the heart of these initiatives is the concept of Sovereign AI—the principle that a nation’s data, compute, and intelligence must remain within its borders. By building India-specific language models and locally governed compute infrastructure, Sarvam AI and its state partners are ensuring AI reflects India’s linguistic, cultural, and social realities.
“Choices made today about AI infrastructure will determine whether intelligence compounds within the country or accrues elsewhere,” Sarvam AI noted in its announcement.
By embedding AI directly into governance, agriculture, industry, and citizen services, India is laying the foundation for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for AI—a shared intelligence layer that can be reused across public systems and ensure that India’s data dividend remains in Indian hands.
