Persistent Systems (Persistent) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) to establish an AI Innovation Lab within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). The lab will act as a long-term platform to advance AI research, deepen industry-academia collaboration and prepare talent through a focus on responsible innovation. The initiative is aligned to Persistent's AI-first strategy and the shared vision of AI for All, aiming to strengthen India's role in the global AI landscape. The facility will host advanced computational, laboratory and instructional capabilities to accelerate research and applied development, concentrating on robust, safe and responsible AI systems across healthcare analytics, educational technology and financial intelligence. An integrated approach spanning theory, systems development and deployment is intended to support scalable solutions and strengthen links between research, engineering and real-world impact. Persistent expects the lab to contribute to its AI capability stack, including reusable frameworks, domain insights and talent pipelines for use across engagements. Beyond research and teaching, the lab is designed to promote international collaboration and cross-domain engagement, serving as a hub for knowledge exchange among academia, industry and policy stakeholders. The initiative will nurture skilled talent and broaden access to foundational technologies across sectors while supporting the CSE@50 mission as the department approaches its golden jubilee in 2030. Company leadership, including alumnus Dr Anand Deshpande, has framed the initiative as a way to give back to the institute and to orient research towards India-centric challenges. Persistent Systems is a global services and solutions company delivering AI-led, platform-driven digital engineering and enterprise modernisation to clients across industries, with over 27,500 employees in 18 countries. The company states that it has achieved carbon neutrality, is included in major domestic and international indices and has recorded 468 per cent growth in brand value since 2020. The new lab is expected to strengthen India’s evolving AI ecosystem by building research capacity, industry partnerships and talent pipelines.