IIT Madras plans first international research centre in Dubai for innovation

IIT Madras is set to expand its global footprint by establishing its first international research and innovation centre in Dubai, scheduled to launch in early 2025 through a strategic partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

In Short

• IIT Madras to open first international centre in Dubai by 2025
• Centre to focus on AI, data science, robotics, sustainable energy
• Aim to boost deep-tech startups and tech capabilities in Dubai

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) is set to make a leap in global research and innovation by establishing its first international flagship centre in Dubai. The IITM Global Dubai Centre is scheduled to launch in early 2025 and will specialise in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science, robotics, and sustainable energy.

This centre aims to create a vital link between India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and Dubai’s growing technology landscape.

The establishment of the IITM Global Dubai Centre follows a strategic agreement between IIT Madras and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

The agreement was signed during GITEX Global 2024, one of the largest technology exhibitions worldwide, by Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), and Professor Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean of Global Engagement at IIT Madras.

FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES

As the first international centre under IITM’s new initiative, ‘IITM Global,’ the Dubai Centre will drive research, innovation, intellectual property licencing, and technology transfer in priority sectors for Dubai.

The focus will be on leveraging advanced technologies to support the international scaling of deep-tech startups, further enhancing the region's technological capabilities.

IIT Madras is widely recognised for its excellence in technical education, research, and innovation. With a reputation built on its world-class faculty, talented students, and strong industry partnerships, the institute has garnered significant acclaim both in India and globally.

Its designation as an Institute of Eminence further underscores its commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation.

The establishment of the IITM Global Dubai Centre marks a new chapter for IIT Madras as it expands its influence on the international stage.

By focusing on advanced research and fostering entrepreneurship in vital technological fields, the centre is poised to contribute significantly to both India’s and Dubai’s innovation ecosystems.

This initiative not only highlights IIT Madras’s leadership in engineering and technology education but also reinforces its role as a global hub for research and development in the 21st century.