Indian Institute of Technology Madras Global Research Foundation (IITM Global) will establish its first centre in the United States, located in Menlo Park, California, in a push to bring Indian deeptech innovation into the heart of Silicon Valley.
The West Coast centre was formally launched on April 24, in partnership with CA Startups.
It will focus on deeptech research and commercialisation, startup incubation, industry–academia partnerships, and venture engagement to support high-potential innovations. It also aims to attract global innovation back into India, creating a two-way corridor between the two countries.
The centre will be developed with a total planned investment of $7.5 million, including a greenfield investment of $4.5 million from IITM Global. Its primary mandate is to serve as a launchpad for Indian deeptech startups seeking access to global capital, markets, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.
Prof V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and Chairman of IITM Global, described the expansion as a natural progression of the institute's long-term ambitions. "This expansion into the United States represents a natural progression of IIT Madras' vision to take Indian research and innovation to the global stage. The Menlo Park center will enable deeper collaboration with global industry leaders, academia, and venture ecosystems, fostering cutting-edge innovation and talent exchange," he said in a statement.
Prof Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Director of IITM Global, highlighted the significance of the West Coast location. "Our West Coast presence positions us at the heart of global technology innovation. This center will catalyse translational research, scale deeptech startups, and build enduring partnerships that bridge India and the United States," he said.
Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of Global Engagement at IIT Madras and a Director of IITM Global, framed the initiative in terms of opportunity for students and researchers. "This initiative is about creating a seamless global innovation corridor. It will empower students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to engage meaningfully with international ecosystems, enhancing both impact and opportunity," she said.
Thirumalai Madhavnarayan, CEO and Director of IITM Global, pointed to the centre's role as a strategic anchor for the foundation's broader US operations. "With a focused investment approach, we aim to build a platform that accelerates deeptech ventures from lab to global markets, while also attracting global innovation into India," he said.
In addition to the Menlo Park facility, IITM Global has announced plans for a second centre on the US East Coast, intended to complement the West Coast hub by connecting with leading policy, financial, and academic ecosystems across the country.
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