The event brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to co-create pathways for India’s development through innovation. Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Pradhan commended IIT Madras for its pioneering role in research and innovation. He emphasized that India’s innovation ecosystem is at a turning point, and research must move beyond academic theses to deliver real-world products and solutions. Highlighting the importance of domestic investment, he noted that much of the technology developed by Indian talent abroad is being purchased back by Indian industries, underscoring the need to build and invest in indigenous products.

The exhibition showcase at IIT Madras Tech Summit 2026 emerges as a compelling window into India’s evolving innovation landscape.

They draw on the research foundation built by the 15 Centres of Excellence established by @iitmadras under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) framework… pic.twitter.com/1z2ThUOVzW

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 5, 2026

Pradhan also pointed to the government’s commitment to strengthening research infrastructure, citing the proposed ₹1 lakh crore fund for R&D directed toward startups and the private sector. “With a strong internal market, India has the advantage of being both producer and consumer,” he said.
The summit witnessed the launch of three major industry-partnered Centres of Excellence:

• NTPC Centre for Cardiovascular Research

Additionally, IIT Madras announced “Bodhan AI,” a Centre of Excellence supported by the Ministry of Education. This initiative will build the Bharat EduAI Stack, a sovereign digital public infrastructure, with the mission to train over one million teachers in AI-enabled teaching by 2027.

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Guest of Honour Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Education and Skill Development, joined the inauguration alongside Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, faculty members, industry leaders, and senior government officials. Prof. Kamakoti reiterated IIT Madras’ commitment to rally partnerships and fast-track India’s journey toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), emphasized that real impact happens when R&D reaches the last mile.

The summit also saw the release of the book “Inventing a Better Tomorrow: 25 Years of IIT Madras Impact,” celebrating the institute’s legacy of innovation.