IIT Madras to host tech summit in Delhi on May 5 to boost industry ties for Viksit Bharat

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is set to host a technology summit in New Delhi on May 5, 2026, bringing together key voices from industry, government and academia. The event, themed “From IITM. For Bharat. Building Together.”, is aimed at creating stronger partnerships and exploring how technology can drive India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

As India moves closer to marking 100 years of independence, the institute believes that deeper collaboration across sectors will be essential to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. The summit will see participation from corporate leaders, policymakers, public sector representatives, researchers, and funding organisations, including CSR and philanthropic bodies.

Corporate leaders and industry representatives interested in attending the summit can register online at https://sociity.in/iitm-tech-summit2026/. The deadline for registration is May 4, 2026.

IIT Madras summit to drive industry-academia partnerships for national growth

IIT Madras said it hopes the platform will help turn cutting-edge research into solutions that can be applied on the ground, especially in areas like deep tech, healthcare, sustainability, agriculture, and skilling.

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Ashwin Mahalingam, dean (alumni and corporate relations), IIT Madras, said, "The summit will showcase how cutting-edge research, supported by Industry, can be transformed into scalable solutions with national relevance and global impact. It will also feature several of IIT Madras’ Centres of Excellence, highlighting the Institute’s research depth, innovation capabilities and readiness to work with partners on solving large-scale societal and industrial challenges."

“Focus areas will include deep tech, AI, semiconductors, sustainability, healthcare tech, innovation & entrepreneurship and skilling & development,” he added further.

IIT Madras sees rise in industry-funded research and innovation output

Over the years, IIT Madras has seen a steady rise in industry-backed research, reflecting growing confidence in its work. The number of such projects has nearly doubled, from 501 in 2015-16 to 982 in the current financial year. Funding from industry has also grown significantly, reaching Rs 966 crore in 2025-26.

The institute files more than 400 patents each year and publishes over 2,500 research papers in international journals. It has also supported the creation of more than 400 startups, helping translate research into real-world applications.

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Collaborations with companies like Walmart, FedEx, Hyundai and several public sector undertakings further highlight its strong industry connect.

IIT Madras summit to focus on translating research into real-world impact

The summit is expected to host a diverse mix of participants, including CEOs, senior bureaucrats, CSR leaders, and academicians.

Kaviraj Nair, CEO, office of institutional advancement, IIT Madras, said, “India’s progress towards Viksit Bharat will increasingly depend on strong collaboration between academia, industry and government. Through the IIT Madras Technology Summit, we aim to bring together leaders across these ecosystems to build meaningful partnerships that translate research into real-world impact. Our goal is to create platforms where cutting-edge technologies—from AI and semiconductors to sustainability and healthcare—can move rapidly from laboratories to large-scale national deployment.”

He noted that the idea is to help technologies, ranging from AI and semiconductors to sustainability and healthcare, move faster from labs to large-scale use.

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IIT Madras to recognise impactful innovations

The summit will also feature the ‘IITM Social Impact Awards 2026’, which aim to recognise organisations using technology to create measurable social impact. These awards will honour initiatives that improve last-mile access through CSR efforts and promote inclusive growth at scale.

IIT Madras said industry partnerships, whether through sponsored research, joint development projects, or CSR initiatives, will be key to sustaining innovation momentum in the coming years.

Through the summit, the institute hopes to deepen collaborations and contribute to building a more self-reliant and globally competitive India.