IIT Madras launches IITM Global to expand international research, academic collaborations

External affairs minister S Jaishankar launched the IITM Global Research Foundation, a major international initiative of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), aimed at transforming the institute into the world’s first multinational university.

The objective of this initiative is to expand IIT Madras's global footprint by facilitating international research collaborations, innovations, startups, and academic partnerships. This will position it as a global hub for education and research with a worldwide network.

Jaishankar also inaugurated the IITM Festival Fortnight event that includes an Open House, allowing the public to visit IIT Madras's laboratories and innovation centres, the annual technical festival Shaastra 2026, and the cultural festival Saarang 2026.

Shaastra 2026 is being held from January 2 to 6, 2026, while Saarang 2026 will take place from January 8 to 12, 2026.

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6 partnerships established under ‘India-for-Global’ initiative

Addressing the gathering, the External Affairs Minister said that countries develop by strengthening themselves domestically and then engaging at the global level.

“India has never viewed the world with a hostile perspective. The challenge is to create the maximum impact with limited resources, and the Indian embassy is striving to achieve just that,” he added.

Jaishankar said that initiatives such as setting up an IIT Madras campus in Tanzania reflect how Indian institutions can make meaningful contributions to international development.

The event was attended by IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, Dean of Global Engagement Raghunathan Rengaswamy, and CEO of the IIT Madras Global Research Foundation Madhav Narayan, along with professors, researchers, and students. The minister also participated in a discussion during the event.

As part of the IITM Global rollout, IIT Madras has signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with institutions in the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Dubai, and the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore and Malaysia.

In addition, six partnerships have been established under the 'India-for-Global' initiative. These collaborations will focus on joint research, industry engagement, startup ecosystems, and technology transfer.

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IITM Global to boost international ties: Kamakoti

“IITM Global aims to strengthen international collaboration through four key areas: global technology transfer, collaborative research projects, international market access for startups, and attracting foreign investments. Initial operations will be launched in the USA, Dubai, Malaysia, and Germany, with plans for further expansion,” Kamakoti said.

IITM Global will function as a plug-and-play platform to help researchers, startups, and industry partners access global markets, funding, and research opportunities. Focus areas will include data science and artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, space technology, advanced mobility, energy and water sustainability, healthcare technology, and green technologies.

IIT Madras currently has 18 academic departments, 15 Centres of Excellence, 23 research centres and nearly 100 advanced laboratories. These are supported by over 650 faculty members and more than 10,000 students.

This institution has consistently been ranked first overall and first in engineering in the NIRF rankings for many years, and is also ranked 180th globally and 56th in Asia in the QS World University Rankings.