The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), India’s top-ranked engineering institute, is set to launch its first international flagship research Centre in Dubai in early 2025. This initiative, part of a strategic partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), aims to promote research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science, robotics, and sustainable energy.
This Centre, a key part of IITM Global, will serve as a bridge to India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting the growth of deep-tech startups on an international scale. It will focus on delivering cutting-edge technology solutions, fostering innovation, and facilitating technology transfer to support Dubai’s key priority areas.
The agreement between IIT Madras and DET was signed during the GITEX Global event by Hadi Badri, CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), and Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean of Global Engagement at IIT Madras.
The Centre aligns with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033, emphasizing sectors like higher education, research, and entrepreneurship. This partnership will also support Dubai’s ambition to become a global leader in research and development (R&D).
In addition to research, the collaboration will help Dubai-based startups with mentorship, business development support, and access to capital, creating a global innovation hub in the region.
