Shodh AI, a company selected for the government's prestigious IndiaAI Mission, has launched Project Skanda in collaboration with NVIDIA. This initiative introduces one of the world's first Mesoscale Foundation Models aimed at revolutionizing the energy storage sector. The project marks a significant step for India, positioning the nation as a key contender in the global race for Physical AI.
A New Frontier in Material Science
Unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit, Project Skanda focuses on the "Mesoscale," the internal structural architecture of a battery. Unlike traditional models that analyze atomic chemistry, this approach examines the invisible framework that dictates a battery's life, safety, and charging speed. This specialized model is designed to drastically accelerate the discovery process for clients in the battery development industry.
Accelerating Innovation with NVIDIA
The project's technological backbone is powered by a strategic collaboration with global tech leader NVIDIA. Shodh AI leverages NVIDIA's advanced Hopper GPUs and the specialized PhysicsNeMo framework to power its complex computations. This partnership provides the necessary infrastructure to translate complex scientific theories into tangible manufacturing solutions for the industry.
Dr. Arastu Sharma, CEO of Shodh AI, outlined the project's transformative goals for research and development. The company aims to slash the material discovery timeline from nearly ten years to just six months, while reducing costs significantly. Currently, the model can predict battery life from an image, with the future goal of generating complete manufacturing methodologies on demand.
Driving India's Technological Sovereignty
Project Skanda is deeply aligned with a national strategic vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative represents a pivotal shift from "Make in India" to "Invent in India," emphasizing the creation of homegrown technology. This move is part of a broader mandate for Shodh AI to build the 'scientific brain' of the nation.
Tim Costa, a General Manager at NVIDIA, underscored the collaboration's importance for India's technological autonomy. He noted that AI is accelerating scientific discovery and that Shodh AI's work establishes a powerful foundation for sovereign AI models. These models are poised to help transform India’s critical energy and technology sectors for the future.
Beyond Batteries: The Future of Scientific AI
Shodh AI's ambitions extend far beyond energy storage, signaling a move from Large Language Models to Large Science Models. The core technology is being adapted for breakthroughs in healthcare, biotechnology, and next-generation quantum materials. This is supported by India's first Autonomous Robotic Material Foundry, which can autonomously synthesize AI-predicted materials.
The launch of Project Skanda represents a landmark achievement for Shodh AI and a defining moment for India's technology sector. By combining advanced AI with a national vision for innovation, the project establishes a new paradigm for scientific discovery. This initiative firmly positions India not just as a participant but as a key architect in the future of global technology.