IIT Madras launches major tech initiatives to boost India's semiconductor and AI startup ecosystems

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras is hosting the 3rd Digital India RISC‑V (DIR‑V) Symposium on August 1‑2 at its Research Park in Chennai. In partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and RISC‑V International, the event will bring together government officials, industry leaders, academia and startups to discuss indigenous processor technologies, secure computing, AI and the expanding RISC‑V ecosystem, supporting India's goal of becoming a global hub for semiconductor design and manufacturing.

IIT Madras is also launching a week‑long intensive programme, “Building a Successful AI Startup,” from August 10‑14. Led by Lakshmi Shankar, a former Google Search Vice‑President, the residential course will train final‑year students, researchers and early‑stage entrepreneurs on AI‑driven product development, market validation, fundraising and scaling. The programme will culminate in a Pitch Day, with the winning team receiving Rs 4 lakh in seed funding to develop its venture.