- The purpose of the visit is to explore and learn from the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem at IIT Madras, particularly in the areas of start-up incubation
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and IIT Madras Research Park are hosting a delegation from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tanzania, from 26th to 29th June 2023.
A nine-member delegation including Prof. Anthony Mshandete and Prof. Suzana Augustino, Deputy Vice Chancellors of NM-AIS, interacted with various faculty members and organisations of IIT Madras as part of this educational and capacity-building tour.
The visit aims to explore and learn from IIT Madras’ experiences and best practices in fostering entrepreneurship, supporting the growth of startup ecosystems and addressing specific challenges. The delegation aims to gain insights into IIT Madras incubation centres’ successful operation and sustainability, management of donor-funded research projects, efficient handling of incubator spaces and the design of innovative working spaces.
The Delegation will be meeting several IIT Madras faculty including Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, President, IIT Madras Research Park, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Institute Professor and former Director, Prof. M.S. Ananth, former Director, Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), Prof. Ligy Philip, Dean (Planning), and Prof. Krishnan Balasubramanian, Head, Centre for Nondestructive Evaluation, among others.
The NM-AIST delegation will also visit various bodies at IIT Madras including IIT Madras Research Park, Nirmaan Pre-Incubator, Centre For Innovation (CFI), Gopalakrishnan Deshpande Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GDC), Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, and National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts.
The Team also interacted with various research groups and centres of excellence including the Energy Consortium, Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and AI (RBCDSAI), the water group headed by Prof. Ligy Philip, besides the School of Sustainability and the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology.
