CHENNAI : A total of 509 graduands received their degrees during the 12 convocation of Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Kancheepuram (IIITDM Kancheepuram), an Institute of National Importance specialized in IT-Enabled Design and Manufacturing, held today (27th July 2024) in the campus.
This included 23 PhDs, 130 Dual Degrees of BTech and MTech, 26 M.Tech, 7 M.Des and 323 B. Tech degree recipients. In
IIITDM Kancheepuram works towards becoming a world-class apex centre of excellence in education, R&D and training in Design and Manufacturing. A premier institution of excellence in Design and Manufacturing, the Institute is training the next generation of engineers and technologists with the ability and mindset to lead Indian industries in globally-competitive economic environment.
During 2023-24 IIITDM Kancheepuram received a total of 16 projects having a cumulative value of Rs. 3.60 crore and was engaged in both Government-funded projects as well as collaborative and consultancy projects with the industry.
The Convocation was held in the presence of Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Director, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, and Member, Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council, Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIITDM Kancheepuram, Prof. M V Kartikeyan, Director, IIITDM Kancheepuram, Shri. A. Chidambaram, Registrar, IIITDM Kacheepuram, faculty, staff, students and parents.
Addressing the students, Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Padma Shri Awardee and Director, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, said, “The main challenge facing India, the most populous country in the world, is to manufacture high quality products at large scale and with low cost. Hence development and adoption of technology needs to be deep and wide. IIITDM is playing a pivotal role in fulfilling this requirement of the country by producing skilled workforce proficient in design, development, and modern IT tools.”
Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, who is also a Member, Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council, added, “While most of us are aware of the visible scientific and technological advances in India like the landing on the moon, are you aware of the host of other important developments that are taking place in the laboratories of our Institutes, in the small towns and in the villages? Portable ECG machine are being built, high quality prosthetics are helping millions, cost effective and energy efficient ways of cooling rooms and preserving food have been developed. Frugal innovation is happening within the start-up ecosystem that is booming in the country. As a result, India has moved from the 81st position in 2015 to 40th position in 2022 in the global innovation index.”
Further, Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay said, “Although we have been constantly strengthening science and technology research in India, to enhance it further, we must adopt multifaceted strategies. In India, participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is crucial for balanced and inclusive growth. Currently, women constitute only about 14% of India’s STEM workforce. This disparity must be addressed to leverage the full potential of our talent pool. Creating a supportive ecosystem is one step in this direction. For the women in this audience, today’s world will require you to work harder with greater commitment and a sense of service. Do not shy away from that.”
Currently, the total student strength of IIITDM Kancheepuram is 1,914 with 83 faculty members. The Institute facilitates an inter-disciplinary, design-oriented engineering education where thrust is given to product development. The Institute offers five B.Tech programmes, Dual Degree Programmes leading to B.Tech and M.Tech Degrees in five specializations, six PG programmes including five M.Tech programmes and one M Des programme and interdisciplinary Ph.D programmes
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIITDM Kancheepuram, said, “In today’s rapidly evolving world, the need for a technological revolution is more urgent than ever. We are witnessing unprecedented advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy. These innovations are not merely academic exercises but are vital tools that will shape the future of our nation and the world.”
Dr. Sridhar Vembu, who is also the Founder-CEO, Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd, added, “Considering our nation’s global aspirations, what we have achieved is inadequate. This gap can be addressed by establishing meaningful and contributory working relationships between academic institutions, industries, government bodies, markets and society. In this context, institutions like IIITDM Kancheepuram have a crucial role in nation-building. Addressing the goals of sustainable development is another critical area where technology plays a pivotal role. India is committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and technology is at the heart of this mission. From developing smart cities to implementing advanced irrigation techniques in agriculture, technology enables us to create a more sustainable future.”
In the financial year 2023-24, MaDeIT Innovation Foundation, IIITDM Kancheepuram’s business incubator, added seven more companies to its portfolio. MaDeIT has incubated about more than 75 companies since its inception, and currently has a portfolio of 25 companies. MaDeIT helps its companies to find visibility and exposure. MaDeIT’s incubatees participated in the Global Investors Meet 2024, Embedded Expo – India Electronics Week(IEW) and Source India Expo 2024.
Presenting the Annual Reporter, Prof. M V Kartikeyan, Director, IIITDM Kancheepuram, said, “In the last couple of years, we have filed almost 36 patents and 7 patents have been granted in the academic year 2023-24. Our research output in terms of academic publications in the year 2023-24 is nearly 350 and the average publication per faculty is 4.2. Our research publications have been cited 853 times by fellow researchers in respective fields. I would like to mention that in NIRF Innovation Ranking 2023 IIITDM Kancheepuram was ranked 8 in the country.”
Prof. M V Kartikeyan added, “The introduction of Support for Major Interdisciplinary Research Equipment (SMIRE) Scheme was a major leap in establishing research facility at the institute. Formulated in the year 2023, a support of Rs. 6 crores are provided annually during the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 for the procurement of major research equipment.”
