Chandigarh University launches CU AI Mission aligned with India AI Mission; turns into first Indian University to have its personal devoted AI Mission
“AI is not going to take your jobs; it will likely be taken by a human who is aware of the use of AI higher than you,” says Ankur Warikoo, Founder of WebVeda & social influencer at AI Fest – 2026 Chandigarh University
CHANDIGARH, India, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marking a historic step in positioning Synthetic Intelligence (AI) as a driving pressure for innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive nationwide improvement whereas additional strengthening India’s emergence as a quickly rising world AI hub, Chandigarh University organized India’s first ‘AI Fest – 2026’ on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit – 2026 to empower younger innovators, strengthen the AI start-up ecosystem and rework daring and scalable concepts into technology-driven options to appreciate the imaginative and prescient of Viksit Bharat.
The mega initiative introduced collectively world entrepreneurs, policymakers, AI leaders, corporates, academia, researchers, startups, and pupil innovators in a strong convergence of expertise, expertise, and transformative concepts. The discussions spanned 4 broad themes—Evolving AI with Evolving People, AI Engineered Actuality, AI Coverage Governance and Structuring, and Technical Frontiers offering a dynamic platform to discover AI-driven innovation and inclusive financial progress.
The grand inauguration of AI Fest 2026 was held in the esteemed presence of Ankur Warikoo Founder of WebVeda, IndiaGeniusChallenge and Ronnie Screwvala, Chairperson UpGrad and education-tech pioneer together with Member of Parliament and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu and eminent world AI leaders and business consultants.
Aligned with the India AI Mission, Chandigarh University grew to become the first college in the nation to launch the CU AI Mission, a complete institutional roadmap targeted on advancing analysis and improvement in Synthetic Intelligence, selling AI-led entrepreneurship and imparting AI literacy throughout educational disciplines. The mission goals to democratize AI information by coaching 1.5 lakh youth, reworking India’s demographic dividend right into a globally aggressive AI-first workforce geared up to guide and innovate throughout each educational and digital-first skilled ecosystems.
Envisioned as a nationwide launchpad for AI-driven startups and entrepreneurial expertise, AI Fest 2026 options three flagship platforms – CU InnovFest 2026, Campus Tank and Sandbox designed to bridge the hole between thought technology, product improvement and market-ready options. The fest hosts greater than 35 competitions throughout various AI and rising expertise domains, bringing collectively over 1,000 nationwide and worldwide groups with participation by over 10,000 college students from greater than 200 universities and faculties to showcase creativity, technical experience and problem-solving capabilities. With a prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore, successful groups will obtain money awards and certificates of excellence. Contributors can even acquire entry to globally acknowledged certifications from world analytics chief SAS Institute, with certification advantages valued at over Rs 1 crore.
Addressing the gathering throughout an Unfiltered session on AI Engineered Actuality, Ankur Warikoo, Founder of WebVeda, IndiaGeniusChallenge stated, “I really imagine that AI isn’t one thing to worry. Your job is not going to be taken away by AI, it will likely be taken away by somebody who is aware of how you can use AI higher than you. The long run belongs to those that embrace expertise, be taught constantly and adapt to alter fairly than run away from it.”
“I’m glad to see establishments like Chandigarh University creating platforms the place conversations round AI are occurring at the grassroots degree. As college students, all that you must do is to hear, keep curious and stay lifelong learners, as a result of whenever you grow to be a pupil for all times, you by no means cease rising. In the present day, expertise has eliminated all excuses for not studying. With AI instruments, anybody can enhance communication expertise, be taught new languages, construct concepts and make higher choices.”
Sharing helpful ideas with college students, Warikoo added, “I at all times advise college students to start out one thing throughout school itself. Doing issues teaches you about failure, resilience and readability. Don’t let the worry of what’s going to individuals say cease you from pursuing your path. Individuals will at all times have opinions, however your life needs to be guided by your individual function and course. Success isn’t about attaining every little thing early, it’s about transferring constantly in the proper course. While you use AI, don’t use it simply to get solutions. Use it to enhance your considering. Ask it how to consider an issue fairly than asking it to unravel the downside for you.”
Addressing the gathering, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu stated, “Synthetic Intelligence will emerge as India’s subsequent trillion-dollar progress engine. With the launch of India’s first CU AI Mission and AI Fest, we reaffirm our dedication to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s imaginative and prescient of making AI a significant cornerstone of Viksit Bharat. With the launch of the CU AI Mission, Chandigarh University has grow to be the first college in India to introduce a devoted AI Mission aligned with the India AI Mission. Pushed by the imaginative and prescient of Making AI in India and Making AI Work for India; we have now taken a landmark step in direction of constructing a future-ready innovation ecosystem targeted on advancing cutting-edge analysis, nurturing AI-driven entrepreneurship and strengthening AI literacy throughout disciplines to assist set up India as a worldwide AI chief. I imagine universities should evolve into nationwide innovation and expertise hubs by encouraging research-driven studying, startup incubation and robust world collaborations. By nurturing innovators and younger changemakers who will form India’s AI-driven future, we’re creating a strong ecosystem that may speed up tech-led financial progress, drive indigenous innovation, generate high-value employment and place India as a worldwide chief in accountable and inclusive AI improvement. India will lead the accountable AI Revolution with an goal to democratize the use of AI for betterment of society”.
Ronnie Screwvala, Chairperson UpGrad and education-tech pioneer stated, “We live in a time the place expertise particularly AI is essentially reshaping how we be taught, work and construct careers. However I would like younger individuals to grasp one factor clearly AI isn’t right here to exchange you, it’s right here to amplify you. The actual distinction will at all times be made by people who know how you can use expertise creatively and responsibly. AI is a strong instrument, however it can not substitute curiosity, creativeness, empathy or resilience. These human qualities will proceed to outline true success.”
“I imagine AI shouldn’t be used merely to get solutions or shortcuts. It needs to be used as a instrument for self-discovery to grasp your strengths, discover new concepts and refine your considering. The long run is not going to belong to those that merely comply with mounted profession paths or outdated playbooks. It is going to belong to those that are nimble, adaptable and open to steady studying. In the present day’s technology has the alternative to pursue a number of careers, experiment with entrepreneurship, content material creation, investing and innovation . This flexibility is a large benefit if used properly.”
Chandigarh University launched the Bose-Einstein Quantum Centre of Excellence with QpiAI, QKrishi and CSIR-Nationwide Bodily Laboratory beneath the Nationwide Quantum Mission to drive quantum analysis, coaching and startup incubation. With this, Chandigarh University has grow to be the first personal college in India to set-up Quantum Heart of Excellence, which is able to function Nationwide Quantum Cryogenic Testing Facility, for management in training, analysis and entrepreneurship.
On the launch of the state-of-the-art facility, Deep Inder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University stated, “To advance cutting-edge quantum analysis, strengthen specialised coaching and speed up startup incubation in rising applied sciences, the Bose-Einstein Quantum Centre of Excellence has been launched by Chandigarh University in collaboration with quantum startups QpiAI (Qpid Power) and QKrishi together with CSIR-NPL (Nationwide Bodily Laboratory) for coaching, analysis and incubation of startups with certificates programs for college students and budding entrepreneurs beneath the Nationwide Quantum Mission. With devoted certificates programmes, superior analysis initiatives and incubation help for college students and budding entrepreneurs, the Centre goals to construct a sturdy quantum innovation ecosystem and place the college as a nationwide chief in quantum training, analysis and entrepreneurship, making it the first personal college in India to determine a complete Quantum Centre of Excellence.”
A high-level panel on Technical Frontiers beneath the theme Rising Applied sciences examined the transformative function of quantum computing, superior analysis and next-generation applied sciences in shaping the future of business and innovation. The panel featured Prof (Dr) Venu Gopal Achanta, Director of CSIR-Nationwide Bodily Laboratory, Authorities of India, who spoke on India’s increasing capabilities in quantum science and precision applied sciences and L Vekata Subramanium, IBM Quantum India Lead and IBM Grasp Inventor at IBM, who shared insights on the rising quantum ecosystem, enterprise adoption and the future affect of quantum computing. Moderated by Nivedan Rathi, Founder of Future & AI, the dialogue highlighted the significance of academia–business collaboration, research-driven innovation and deep-tech expertise improvement to place India at the forefront of rising applied sciences.
The grand finale of Campus Tank, India’s first university-led start-up launchpad which was launched in August 2025 will happen on February 21st.
The Sandbox platform organized by Chandigarh University’s Know-how Enterprise Incubator which is a platform to offer an open innovation ecosystem for college students, startups, professionals and unbiased innovators would happen on February 20th.
Chandigarh University additionally launched the NARI Scheme (Nurturing AI Revolution for Inclusion – Girls in Tech) aligned with the Nari Shakti which is has been envisioned as one of the 4 pillars of Viksit Bharat by PM Narendra Modi. The initiative goals to empower girls by AI and expertise upskilling, startup incubation and entrepreneurial help, well being and wellness outreach and management improvement throughout sectors.
A high-impact panel on AI Ethics, Belief & Governance beneath the theme NARI—Nurturing AI Revolution for Inclusion: Girls Main Fronts introduced collectively distinguished girls leaders to deliberate on constructing a accountable, inclusive and reliable AI ecosystem. The session featured insights from Ayesha Chaudhary from WomenLift Well being, entrepreneur Varija Bajaj of Varija Life, Aditi Maheshwari of Vani Prakashan Group which was moderated by Navyaa Sharma, Software program Engineer at Google. The dialogue explored moral AI frameworks, accountable governance fashions, variety in AI management and the want to make sure equitable entry to rising applied sciences.
Chandigarh University
Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous instructional establishment is authorised by UGC and is situated close to Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It’s the youngest college in India and the solely personal college in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (Nationwide Evaluation and Accreditation Council). CU affords greater than 109 UG and PG packages in the area of engineering, administration, pharmacy, regulation, structure, journalism, animation, lodge administration, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Finest Placements by WCRC.
Web site handle: https://www.cuchd.in/
“This can be a firm press launch that isn’t half of editorial content material. No journalist of The Hindu businessline was concerned in the publication of this launch.”
Revealed on February 20, 2026
Source link
#Chandigarh #University #Hosts #Indias #Fest #sidelines #India #Impact #Summit
