Rodic Consultants has partnered with Nasscom to launch the Rodic InfraAI Innovation Challenge, a national initiative designed to encourage the use of artificial intelligence in India’s infrastructure and strategic sectors. Supported by Startup India through outreach to DPIIT-recognised startups, the programme will connect AI and deep-tech startups with real infrastructure challenges. The initiative will focus on developing practical solutions that can be tested, deployed and scaled across live projects.
The challenge is part of a broader partnership between Rodic Consultants and Nasscom to identify and develop emerging technologies for India’s infrastructure sector. Rodic will bring its engineering and infrastructure expertise and access to real project environments, while Nasscom will connect the programme with India’s technology and startup ecosystem.
Unlike conventional startup competitions that are often based on hypothetical problems, the InfraAI Innovation Challenge will use real-world infrastructure requirements drawn from Rodic’s projects. This approach is intended to give participating startups a clearer route from solution development to field testing and commercial deployment.
The first edition will focus on four key areas. The AI on India Energy Stack theme will invite solutions using the Ministry of Power’s emerging digital infrastructure for the energy sector. AI for Roads, Bridges and Tunnels will focus on asset monitoring, defect detection, predictive maintenance and construction intelligence.
The third theme, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, will seek AI applications that can help protect roads, railways and power transmission networks from floods, landslides and extreme heat. The fourth, GenAI for Public Works and Citizen Benefit Delivery, will explore multilingual AI tools to improve access to public services and government health benefits.
Raj Kumar, CMD, Rodic Consultants and CEO, Rodic Digital Advisory, said the initiative is designed to connect AI innovators with actual infrastructure challenges. He added that the objective is to identify technologies that can be tested and scaled across live projects to create smarter, safer and more resilient infrastructure. Ankit Bose, Head of AI, Nasscom, said the challenge will provide startups with access to industry problem statements, expert support and a pathway towards deployment.
The initiative will extend beyond the competition itself. High-potential startups may enter Rodic’s Pilot Partnership Program, where selected technologies can be tested on live projects. Successful solutions could subsequently move towards commercial deployment. The partnership also provides for potential strategic investment in selected startups as part of Rodic’s long-term innovation plans.
Rodic Consultants has worked across highways, bridges, tunnels, urban infrastructure, water, hydropower, energy, railways, metros and smart technologies. Through the InfraAI Innovation Challenge, the company aims to identify and scale AI, generative AI, hardware and software solutions that address complex infrastructure requirements. The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for India’s startup ecosystem while supporting faster adoption of emerging technologies across the country’s infrastructure development programmes.
