V Kamakoti

At IITMadras, a quiet revolution is underway, and V Kamakoti, director since January 2022, is the one steering it. A researcher-turned-leader, Kamakoti has threaded AI, microprocessors, and interdisciplinary education into the very fabric of the institute.

He’s best known for leading the design of SHAKTI, India’s first indigenously developed RISC‑V microprocessor, a milestone in semiconductor self-reliance, now powering startups and defence-grade systems.

In his role, Kamakoti has championed responsible AI, ethics, and “hyper‑automation” in governance, ensuring that technology remains accountable.

Inside campus walls, he’s expanded IIT‑M’s curriculum to include online learning, interdisciplinary electives, and humanistic studies, blending tech and humanities for a holistic education.

Under his leadership, the institute launched new BTech programs in computational engineering and mechanics, instrumentation and biomedical engineering, integrating AI and computational tools directly into core engineering fields.

Kamakoti’s accolades include the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship, IBM Faculty Award, DRDO Academic Excellence Award, and the IESA Techno Visionary Award.

With over 150 publications, a seat on the National Security Advisory Board, and a vision that spans chips to communities, Kamakoti is not just shaping IIT Madras; he’s shaping India’s future in semiconductor innovation, AI, and inclusive education.