IIT Madras opens first US centre in Silicon Valley as govt pushes stronger industry-funded R&D

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has launched its first centre in the United States at Menlo Park, marking a major step in its efforts to connect Indian deep-tech startups with global investors, research networks, and technology markets.

The new facility, established through the IIT Madras Global Research Foundation, is located near Silicon Valley and is expected to function as a gateway for Indian startups seeking international collaborations and commercial expansion.

According to reports, the initiative involves a planned investment of around $7.5 million, including approximately $4.5 million from IITM Global. The institute is also planning a second centre on the US East Coast to strengthen engagement with academic institutions, policymakers, financial networks, and research ecosystems.

The centre is expected to support startups working in sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, aerospace, quantum technologies, biotechnology, climate technology, fintech, agritech, manufacturing, and cyber-physical systems.

Dharmendra Pradhan calls for stronger private sector R&D participation

The launch coincided with remarks by Dharmendra Pradhan at the IIT Madras Technology Summit 2026, where he urged greater private industry participation in India’s research and development ecosystem.

Pradhan said nearly 70 per cent of India’s research funding currently comes from the government and argued that the country should move towards a more balanced 50:50 public-private research investment model.

He stressed the importance of converting academic research into commercially viable products and reducing dependence on imported technologies. Referring to Indian-origin innovations that are commercialised abroad and later re-enter the Indian market, the minister said the country must strengthen its domestic innovation and manufacturing capabilities.

The minister also highlighted India’s rise in the Global Innovation Index from 85th position to 38th position in recent years. He noted that India’s startup ecosystem has expanded from a few hundred startups to more than 2.5 lakh registered ventures.

IIT Madras strengthens deep-tech startup ecosystem

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has emerged as one of India’s leading deep-tech innovation hubs. During FY 2025–26, the institute incubated 112 startups under its ‘Startup Shatam’ mission for the second consecutive year.

The institute also filed 431 patents during the same period, supporting its “one patent a day” innovation target.

Officials said more than 60 per cent of the startups incubated at IIT Madras were founded by entrepreneurs from outside the institute, reflecting its growing national reach.

The institute’s innovation ecosystem includes intellectual property management, startup incubation support, commercialisation frameworks, and mentorship programmes designed to help research-based ventures scale into viable businesses.

India’s broader innovation ambitions

The expansion into the United States reflects a broader strategy to integrate India’s innovation ecosystem with global technology hubs while strengthening domestic research and manufacturing capacity.

Policy experts believe that if private-sector investment in R&D increases significantly alongside government funding, India could accelerate progress towards its long-term goal of technological self-reliance by 2047.

However, analysts also note that without stronger industry participation in research commercialisation, India may continue depending heavily on foreign technologies despite advances in academic innovation and startup growth.