IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation has completed five years of operations, showcasing its contribution to technology-led nation building through artificial intelligence, deep-tech innovation, secure communication systems, digital skilling and rural development.
The Foundation celebrated its fifth anniversary through Pravartak Impact Day, highlighting how its research and innovation ecosystem has delivered solutions across national security, governance, healthcare, education, agriculture, cultural heritage and entrepreneurship.
Building technologies for national priorities
Over the past five years, IIT Madras Pravartak has grown into a technology innovation hub with nearly 500 researchers, faculty members, professionals and innovators, supported by a 40,000 sq. ft. innovation ecosystem and collaborations with government, academia and industry.
Among its key achievements is the development of indigenous secure communication systems for the Indian Armed Forces, designed to provide resilient and trusted communication in mission-critical environments. The Foundation said these technologies have supported defence operations, reinforcing India’s strategic capabilities through home-grown innovation.
AI initiatives focus on solving real-world problems
Through its Centre for Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence (CHAI), the Foundation is developing AI systems designed to augment human expertise across multiple sectors.
Current projects include sovereign AI language models for national audit institutions, AI-powered procurement intelligence for government, workflow intelligence for judicial institutions, AI-assisted screening for neonatal congenital heart diseases, defence procurement intelligence, prison mental health support, heritage restoration and immersive technologies for preserving India’s cultural legacy.
Deep-tech startup ecosystem gains momentum
IIT Madras Pravartak has incubated 58 deep-tech startups so far, with 20 graduating from its incubation programme.
Of these, five startups have secured Series A or pre-Series A funding, while two have raised investments from private investors. Notably, 23 startups have successfully commercialised their technologies, reflecting strong translation of research into market-ready products.
Skilling over 24,000 learners
The Foundation’s Digital Skills Academy has trained more than 24,000 learners over the last five years, including 8,000 students, 12,000 working professionals, 2,000 government officials and 2,000 students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through CSR initiatives.
More than 8,500 learners have reported career progression through placements, promotions and new employment opportunities, while nearly 3,000 rural teachers have received digital skills training.
Expanding impact beyond research
Beyond research and innovation, IIT Madras Pravartak’s CSR programmes now cover 13 Rural Technology Centres, 189 Rural Interaction Centres across Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, and benefit over 4,000 students through programmes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and entrepreneurship.
Its RASA agriculture platform leverages computer vision and natural language processing to support farmers throughout the crop cycle, while other initiatives focus on assistive technologies, indigenous cattle conservation and rural livelihoods.
The Foundation is also collaborating with global companies including Samsung, Accenture and Vertiv to strengthen technology adoption and workforce development. Under Vertiv’s CSR initiative, IIT Madras Pravartak is delivering a nationwide skilling programme to prepare students for careers in India’s expanding data centre industry.
Leadership comments
IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti said IITM Pravartak has become an important contributor to translational research and innovation, supporting India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, CEO, M J Shankar Raman, said, “Technology has meaning only when it creates impact. Over the last five years, our endeavour has been to bring together academia, industry, government and startups to build capabilities that serve the Nation. Whether it is strengthening national security, preparing thousands of learners for the digital economy, applying AI to improve public institutions or nurturing deep-tech innovation, our focus has always been on creating solutions that matter to society.”