BANGALORE  – SecurEyes, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, and the esteemed I-DAPT Hub Foundation at IIT (BHU) Varanasi have announced an exciting and collaborative partnership aimed at propelling research and technology development in the realms of Cybersecurity, and academia. This strategic alliance marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of cutting-edge solutions to address emerging cyber threats and foster innovation in safeguarding critical infrastructure.

The partnership leverages the I-DAPT Hub Foundation’s pivotal role as the nodal center and Technology Innovation Hub for “Data Analytics and Predictive Technologies” under the Government of India’s National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). By uniting SecurEyes’ expertise in cybersecurity with I-DAPT’s proficiency in research and innovation, the collaboration is poised to make significant contributions to the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

The two entities seek to create innovative solutions that safeguard national and societal interests from cyber threats by pooling their expertise, resources, and knowledge. The joint efforts will facilitate knowledge exchange with regulators in India and on global platforms while nurturing a talent pool for a shared commitment to excellence.

After the signing of the agreement, Uma Pendalya, Head of Business Operations at SecurEyes said. “The signing of the MOU marks a much needed industry academia collaboration at a time when accelerated digital transformation is creating cybersecurity challenges at all levels. We are immensely happy and excitedly look forward to creating a platform for innovation and research in cybersecurity and related technologies. SecurEyes is committed to creating a difference for the student community by opening windows of opportunity for them into the sector via research and innovation projects. This collaboration will definitely have long-term and far reaching results in future”.

Prof. Vikash Kumar Dubey, Director, I-DAPT HUB Foundation said, “this collaboration will support and adhere to mutual endeavors in delivery of research and technology development. The strategic alliance will provide significant outcome-based solutions in the pursuit of cutting – edge technology of cyber security system”.

Dr. R. K. Singh, Coordinator, I-DAPT Hub Foundation said, “this partnership will lead to the remarkable contribution in the evolving era of the cybersecurity landscape and the predictive technologies’”

Through this comprehensive agreement, SecureEyes and I-DAPT Hub Foundation are poised to drive significant advancements in the field of cybersecurity and technology development, fostering innovation and contributing to the protection of critical infrastructure.

Their shared commitment to excellence and innovation will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity and technology advancement.

MANDI : Indian Institute of Technology Mandi’s Technology Business Incubator, Catalyst, is hosting the seventh edition of its Annual Flagship Event, Himalayan Startup Trek (HST) from 29^th September to 1^th October 2023.

The event features a Grand Challenge for startups, innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs that has Rs. 6 lakh cash prizes. Top startups will also have the opportunity to raise upto Rs.50 lakhs. The last date to apply is 20th August 2022.

In its seventh edition, ‘HST Startup Grand Challenge’ – startup pitch competition will have three thematic areas including:

1. The New Age Alliance – Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Problem areas in this thematic area are devised in consultation with iHub and HCI foundation at IIT Mandi (iHub), and the Indian HCI foundation. iHub has sponsored the prize money for this thematic area.

Problem Statements in Human Computer Interaction

• Assistive technologies to aid and enhance human functioning and decision making
• Use of advanced technologies to enhance the cognitive abilities of humans
• Use of computer intelligence to aid human decision-making, prediction, communication, and processing
• Brain-computer interaction based solutions for economic and social betterment
• Robotics and AI based solutions for high business and computing performance
• Cost-effective diagnostic tools/equipment/services as an alternative to costly tests such as MRI
• Electric vehicle and hydrogen based technology solutions for mobility
• Application of deep tech and high tech solutions that cut across industries including health, agriculture, clean energy, sustainable economy, etc.
• Autonomous and remote computer interaction based systems that enhance humans’ interaction with computers
• Augmented and virtual reality based solutions for sectors including education, health, and skilling

1. The Foothill Innovators Challenge – Build for the Himalayas

The problem statements in these areas are devised in close communication with the state’s Industries Department, HP Center for Entrepreneurship Development, Department of IT, and Labor Commissioner Office-HP.

Problem Statements in Build for Himalayas

○     Hill road safety, disaster prevention, and management

○     Demand and supply-side challenges to Himalayan agriculture

○     Vocal for local – interventions to scale local products and services

○     Rural development – education, skill training, and employment

○     Patient oriented Hospital Management Information System, Digitization of patient health records and prescription, and data based analytics for decision making

○     Route Tracking of popular high elevation trekking routes

○     Location tracking of trekkers in areas with and without internet networks

○     SoS system for trekkers to call for help in areas without internet networks

○     Integration of intra-departmental and interdepartmental data to make data-based decisions

○     Low cost technology solutions for displaying, managing, and monitoring vehicle inflow, time-keeping and payment at parking areas

○     Solutions for managing the state’s blue colored human resource including factory commissioning, labor law compliance, labor hiring and training.

○     Solutions for efficient record keeping and employment matchmaking for human resources

○     Technology on drones for use cases in Himalayas – essentials delivery, difficult terrain mapping and discovery, use cases in high altitude agriculture (sprays, irrigation, etc)

○     Drone based solutions for monitoring, mapping, and reporting of deforestation, and solutions for reforestation

○     Solutions to promote vernacular housing, sustainable living, and green practices at individual and organizational levels

1. The Habitable World Challenge – Environment and Sustainability

The problem statements for this area have been developed in partnership with Peak ventures, Alsisar Impact, Pollution control board-HP, and National Health Mission-HP.

Problem Statements in Theme 3: Environment and Sustainability

• Technology-based solution for handling/processing/disposing single-use plastic waste
• Technology solutions for solid waste management
• Management and recycling of industrial and household waste
• Technology solutions for sustainable livelihood and economic/social practices
• Solutions based on clean technologies including electric vehicles, solar, hydrogen
• Energy efficiency monitoring and management systems
• Community based entrepreneurship solutions that use technology to create social impact
• Resource management and conservation
• Water purification solutions based on novel technologies that preserve essential nutritional/mineral values
• Climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) for a sustainable future

Each thematic area has prize money of up to INR 2 Lakhs to be distributed between the top 3 start-ups in the given theme. Top start-ups will be provided incubation support and access to funding schemes for prototyping as well product development up to INR 50 lakhs. These startups will also get piloting opportunities in the state.

Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director IIT Mandi, urged entrepreneurs and innovators from the Himachal region to participate in this edition of the HST Startup Grand Challenge 2023 and showcase their innovations and ideas.

Dr. Puran Singh, Faculty Incharge and Director Incubation, IIT Mandi Catalyst said, “I am thrilled to witness the incredible growth and success of HST. HST unites us as a community, offering unwavering support to startups tackling pressing challenges with ingenious tech-based solutions. The boundless enthusiasm and dedication of our stakeholders for this year’s HST will solidify its position as one of the nation’s most influential startup events. Let’s unite and celebrate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Sh. Rakesh Kumar Prajapati, Director of Industries, Himachal Pradesh, said, “I am delighted to witness the remarkable growth of Himalayan Startup Trek, which has now emerged as the biggest startup event in the Himalayas. It truly symbolizes the thriving startup ecosystem in our state, and the Himachal Government takes immense pride in being a partner in this journey. As we eagerly look forward to the 7th edition of HST, I am excited about the prospect of attracting startups that are passionately committed to solving the pressing challenges of the Himalayan region. We would be happy to provide the necessary support for the successful materialization and deployment of these innovative solutions wherever feasible.”

Shri Anil Joshi, Member Secretary of the HP State Pollution Control Board, expresses his support for the Himalayan Startup Trek, organized by IIT Mandi Catalyst. The Trek has grown remarkably, showcasing the spirit of innovation in our Himalayan region. Addressing environmental concerns and sustainability is a priority, and I eagerly anticipate meeting startups committed to finding solutions. Together, we can foster a vibrant startup ecosystem that drives positive change and preserves the natural beauty of our beloved Himalayas. Let’s envision a greener and more sustainable future through this remarkable event.

Every year, the event brings together the stakeholders of the Indian Startup ecosystem including entrepreneurs, industrialists, investors, experts, government, and budding start-ups.

This year’s event will be bigger and better than previous year’s iterations, with a plethora of events for the startup community as well as the aspiring student entrepreneurs from IIT Mandi as well as from other neighboring colleges. The event has been planned on a large scale and is expecting a footfall of about 1000 including 800 startups founders and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the country, over 200 speakers, investors and senior government officials including bureaucrats.

Through its support programs, IIT Mandi Catalyst guides early-stage entrepreneurial initiatives by providing support in infrastructure, finances, mentoring, and industry connections, thereby making itself an attractive destination for startups across the country. In the last five editions, IIT Mandi Catalyst received participation from over 1800 startups and over 150 mentors/speakers/investors. Himalayan Startup Trek (HST) has proven to be a fruitful event for startups and mentors alike. HST brings a much-anticipated opportunity for startup ecosystem stakeholders to interact and network in person. IIT Mandi is primarily supported by the Department of Science and Technology, GoI, and HP State government. Several government ministries including the Ministry of Electronics and Startup India have also backed IIT Mandi Catalyst.

The sponsors of HST 2023 include the Department of Industries, Government of Himachal Pradesh, Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited, Peak Venture, and IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation. Catalyst welcomes other organizations looking forward to support the Himalayan Startup ecosystem.

You can directly apply here, iitmandicatalyst.typeform.com/hst2023

For more Information: www.iitmandicatalyst.in/hst2023

CHENNAI : Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is offering an online certificate program in ‘Additive Manufacturing Technologies for Practising Engineers’ through its Center for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE).

Those having a bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Applied Sciences or Basic Sciences with at least 3 years of working experience are eligible to apply.

The last date to register is 20th September 2023. Those interested can apply through the following link – https://code.iitm.ac.in/additive-manufacturing-technologies-for-practising-engineers

‘Additive Manufacturing’ (AM) is emerging as an attractive process to produce various engineering and biomedical components. There is a huge potential for use of AM in various engineering and biomedical applications. It has already emerged as a viable, cost-effective and net-shape manufacturing process for low volume production of complex body implants with specific custom-made designs.

Highlighting the importance of this course, Dr. Murugaiyan Amirthalingam, Associate Professor, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “This course is aimed at the practising engineers and middle level managers who have not undergone classroom teaching on additive manufacturing. This course is aimed to provide both fundamentals and applied knowledge of additive manufacturing technologies. Those who want to implement various AM technologies in their workplace, can get benefited from this course.”

This course is aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of pre- and post-processing methodologies, design strategy for additive manufacturing and operational principles of additive manufacturing processes. Practising engineers can learn about the fundamental principles that govern various additive manufacturing methodologies and how the developed knowledge is applied in service to improve the commercial applicability of available additive manufacturing technologies. Upon completion of this course, learners can jump-start their careers in the area of additive manufacturing.

The Learning objectives of this course include:

Ø Understand the fundamentals of AM processes, materials and design for AM and post-processing methodologies

Ø Learn the generic process chain of AM Technologies by hands-on training

Ø Obtain an ability to apply AM technologies disruptively in various engineering industries

Ø Analyse and appreciate the impact of AM technologies in product design and development

Ø Comprehend the testing, qualification, and standardization methods and procedures for AM materials and components

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 Kathmandu : In an important development for internationalization, IIT Hyderabad (IITH) and Kathmandu University (KU) agreed to offer Joint Doctoral Programme (JDP) at the PhD level in all areas of research. Many more decisions to strengthen the ties between the two Institutes were taken during the recent visit of the IITH delegation to KU.

Under this JDP program, bright and motivated students from India and Nepal will have the opportunity to work on frontier areas of science, technology & design, and medical innovations. The students admitted to the JDP at KU will have an opportunity to spend up to one year at IITH, supported by an IITH scholarship during their stay at IITH and vice versa. This association is aimed at developing successful academic and research collaborations in the areas of common interest and complementary capabilities. It seeks to harness the synergy at both institutions to propel excellent research.

Further, IITH will host 10 BTech students from KU in the final year (4th year) from the August 2023 cycle with an aim to provide much-needed research exposure among undergraduate students. IITH also agreed to host undergraduate students from KU for a short research internship.

To take the mutual academic and research collaboration to newer heights, both Institutes also agreed to exchange their faculty to work collaboratively on the grand challenges which are common to both countries. Both Institutes agreed to further foster their ongoing collaboration, especially in the area of Medical Technology, Yoga and Heritage Science.

Voicing his pleasure at JDP by IITH and KU, Prof Bhola Thapa, Vice-Chancellor, KU said, “There are lots of opportunities for both the Institutes KU and IITH to work jointly to promote faculty exchanges, joint research programs, and international internships. Together we can do much more for us. Let’s march together to become Vishwaguru.”.

Enumerating the program’s merits with KU, Prof. B. S. Murty, Director, IITH, said, “The Joint Doctoral Program with Deakin & SUT Australia and NTHU Taiwan highlight IITH’s commitment to global collaboration and academic excellence. Signing the JDP MoU with KU, Nepal showcases the potential for fostering regional development and empowering students as catalysts of positive change as we collaboratively Invent & Innovate in Technology for Humanity for which IITH stands for.”.

The program was launched with a signing of the agreement (MoU) at KU, Nepal, by Prof Bhola Thapa (Vice-Chancellor, KU) and Prof B S Murty (Director, IITH) last month in the presence of Prof Manish Pokharel (Dean of School of Engineering), Prof Dr Manoj Humagain (Dean of School of Medical Sciences), Prof Janardan Lamichhane (Dean of School of Science), Associate Deans of the Schools, Heads of the various Departments, Dr V Natraj Prasad (Director of College of Medical Sciences), Prof Tarun K Panda (Dean – International Relations, IITH), Prof Saptarshi Majumdar (Dean – Academics, IITH), and Prof Chandra Shekhar Sharma (Dean – Sponsored Research and Consultancy, IITH) along with other officials from KU.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, virtually addressed the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Symposium organised by IIT Madras in Chennai. In his address, he emphasized the government’s vision for DIR-V which currently aims to build a robust ecosystem for RISC-V with effective public-private partnerships and collaborations with premiere academic institutions like IIT Madras.

The DI—V program, launched last year, aims to boost India’s semiconductor ecosystem by creating advanced microprocessors. The Minister spoke about how DIR-V will create tech opportunities for every player in the industry and that it will play a vital role in achieving India’s techade goals.

“Today, for India, the Future is Bright, the Future is DIR-V. Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has already declared that this initiative will define India’s techade and present numerous tech opportunities. This will be driven by the creativity and innovation of our engineers and startups in India. Innovation, functionality and performance — these are the mantras for the coming years for the DIR-V program. The Government of India is fully committed to making DIR-V the Indian ISA (Instruction Set Architecture),” Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.

The Minister emphasized the importance of such indigenous programs and mentioned that there is a growing demand for silicon chips in the ever-increasing digitalisation and for new applications that are yet to be discovered.

“As the internet becomes more complex with the emergence of 5G and 6G, new applications will be discovered. There will be more opportunities for silicon chips, semiconductors and other systems to find a place. When we talk about performance and applications, I see a future where many digital products that we consume today, whether it’s the cloud, data centers, mobile devices, tablets, servers for cloud services, automotive technologies, sensors, IoT, 5G, or 6G networks, we will see DIR V-based chips, devices, and systems in all of these,” Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar further added.

The minister explained how it is essential to keep DIR-V at the heart of all India’s goals of high-performance computing. “While we may continue activities and programs in the x-86 and ARM space, our main focus is on the DIR-V program. I am willing to commit that our High performance computing goals led by C-DAC and supported by various public-private partnerships, will have DIR-V at the heart of it,” he added.

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar also highlighted the importance of going beyond basic functionality and putting more effort into developing cutting-edge systems that set new global standards.

“Our ambition in the India techade spans these three areas: the automotive industrial space with IoT, mobility, and computing, including high-performance computing. Our goal is to make sure that DIR-V has a serious presence in all of these three segments. The real message in addition to saying that we will back this program is that the expectation from the DIR-V community and the ecosystem is not just anymore about functionality. Today, we don’t just want functional systems, we want functional systems that are also cutting edge in terms of setting new benchmarks against other comparative systems and ISAs,” the Minister said.

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar lauded the partnership between IIT Chennai and C-DAC, specifically in context of the DIR-V program, highlighting how such collaborations create a hub for creativity and innovation. “The collaboration between IIT Chennai and C-DAC has shown how IIT-Chennai has become a beacon for all other academic institutions around the world, as well as for those interested in being part of this rapidly galloping ecosystem of semiconductors and electronics innovation. IIT Chennai is fast becoming a hub for innovation and creativity, and a hub for future systems centered around DIR-V,” he said.

The one-day symposium showcased various tech innovations and saw participation from startups, students, and academicians from the industry.

Union Minister for State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar will be taking part in the ‘Digital India RISC-V’ Symposium, being organised by IIT Madras and IIT-M Pravartak Technologies Foundation on Sunday in Chennai.

The event showcasing ‘The future of Electronics in India through the RISC-V pathway’, will be attended by students, industry professionals, researchers and all those keen to gain insights about the growing RISC-V ecosystem in India

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, will address the event along with other dignitaries.

The symposium will feature insightful tech talks by academicians and industry experts, interactive stalls showcasing indigenous RISC-V processors, an engaging Hackathon and a special investor session.

About RISC-V

‘RISC’ stands for ‘Reduced Instruction Set Computer’ and ‘V’ stands for the fifth generation. The RISC-V project began in 2010. The RISC-V ISA enables a new era of processor innovation through open standard collaboration and aims to deliver a new level of free, extensible software and hardware freedom on architecture, paving the way for the next 50 years of computing design and innovation. Prof Kamakoti developed ‘SHAKTI,’ India’s first indigenously-designed microprocessor based on RISC-V ISA.

The RISC-V foundation was formed in 2015 with IIT Madras being one of the founder members. The DIR-V (Digital India RISC-V) Microprocessor Program was launched in 2022 by the GOI, with an overall aim to enable the creation of Microprocessors for the future in India, for the world and achieve industry-grade silicon & Design wins by December 2023.

The RISC-V ISA based designs are used by many companies and start-ups. It is open source and free of cost. For academicians, the pedagogy of RISC-V ISA opens up an industry-relevant curriculum with numerous exciting research and applications.

Kanpur : The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK), hosted the launch of the brochure of Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) 2023, the country’s largest scientific talent search examination based on digital devices, on August 3, 2023. The event was graced by dignitaries, including IIT Kanpur professors Prof. Sameer Khandekar, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Prof. Sachchidanand Tripathi, Joint Faculty in Sustainable Energy Engineering; Prof. Laltu Chandra, Dept. of Sustainable Energy Engineering; Shreyansh Mandloi, State Organization Minister of Vijnana Bharati; Kaustubh Omar, National Coordinator of Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan; Prof. Sunil Mishra, Prant Secretary; Dr. D. S. Bag, Joint Director of Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMRSDE), and Dr. Saurabh Tomar from IITK, among others. IIT Kanpur Director, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, wished success for the event.
Jointly organized by Vijnana Bharati, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan 2023 aims to identify and nurture scientific talent among students. Students from classes 6 to 11 of all boards can register for the examination on – vvm.org.in. The examination will be held on October 29 and/or October 30, 2023, between 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (90 minutes). The results will be announced on November 10, 2023.
A total of 120 students from Uttar Pradesh will have the opportunity to participate in the state-level camp. The top 18 achievers will receive cash prizes of Rs. 5000, Rs. 3000, and Rs. 2000, respectively. The top 12 students will advance to the national camp. Every participant will receive a district-level certificate. The examination will comprise 100 questions to be answered within 90 minutes, mostly application-based questions. The last date for applying to Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan is September 15, 2023, with a registration fee of Rs. 200.
Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan 2023-24 edition will provide special opportunities to participating students, including training and internships (01 to 03 weeks) at reputed national research laboratories or institutions like Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), etc., for the national (Himalayans) and regional winners. Additionally, they will be granted a scholarship of Rs. 2000 per month. The national winner (Himalayans) will also be assigned a prestigious project/activity for one year, to be periodically evaluated.
During the event, other dignitaries including Dr. B.N. Acharya, Dr. Ashutosh Tiwari, Dr. Amit Mishra, Dr. Shruti, and Principals of Seth Anandram Jaipuria School Kanpur, St. Mary’s Orthodox School, Jay Narayan Vidya Mandir, Saraswati Gyan Mandir, Onkareshwar Saraswati Vidya Niketan Inter College, were present.

In this context, there is a need for analytical tools capable of providing quantitative assessments of the extent to which the existing healthcare infrastructure, which is often composed of multiple tiers, in a given region can respond adequately to pandemic caseloads. This is important for planning the capacity of makeshift COVID-19 care facilities.

Such a tool must also be able to handle the substantial uncertainty associated with these situations, including the uncertainty around the care provision process, the caseload, patient progression, and patient flow across the network.

A team of researchers, including Prof. Varun Ramamohan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi; Dr. Karan Madan, Additional Professor of Pulmonology, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi; Prof. Navonil Mustafee, University of Exeter Business School, United Kingdom; and Mohd Shoaib, Research Scholar, IIT Delhi, developed a probabilistic discrete-event simulation of the operations of a public healthcare network in a north Indian district and demonstrated its use for planning the capacity of the network for a single wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The public healthcare network that they modelled was based on the COVID-19 caseload during the first wave in one of the districts in North India, having 10 primary health centres (PHCs), 3 community health centres (CHCs), and a district hospital. Simulation models of the operations of each of these facilities were created and then linked together to build the public health network simulation.

The researchers formulated a pandemic response strategy in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, that was incorporated into the simulation.

“The simulation outcomes indicated that the existing capacity of the public health network—in particular in terms of the number of general ward beds, ICU beds with supplemental oxygen, and ICUs with ventilator beds—needs to be enhanced to handle the wave and that a makeshift COVID-19 care centre would be required. However, interestingly, the capacity of the medical personnel—doctors and nurses—was found to be sufficient in terms of medical care provision (not considering administration and paperwork) during the simulated wave. The simulation tool was then used to estimate the capacity for the makeshift COVID-19 care centre so that patient wait times to receive appropriate care are reduced”, Prof. Varun Ramamohan said.

Overall, while the simulation tool was demonstrated using COVID-19 as a case study, it can be used to plan the operational response of the public health network in a given region to any health crisis, such as a dengue or cholera outbreak. It can even be used to evaluate changes in operational policy during routine care conditions, such as when a new referral policy from lower-tier to higher-tier facilities is introduced.

The study titled “Leveraging multi-tier healthcare facility network simulations for capacity planning in a pandemic” is published in Socio-Economic Planning Sciences (SEPS): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038012123001726

CHENNAI : Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has called for applications to the courses being offered by its Zanzibar Campus, which is a unique partnership between the Governments of India, Zanzibar and IIT Madras. It will offer academic programs starting in October 2023.

The IIT Madras Zanzibar Campus offers a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science & AI or a two-year Master of Technology degree in Data Science & AI, depending on their eligibility and qualifications. The programs are open to students of all nationalities, including Indians.

Apart from a comprehensive curriculum that includes all aspects of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, students will have access to several interesting opportunities during their course of study. These include study abroad/semester exchange programs with IITM’s partner institutions in the U.K. and Australia, among other countries, internships with various relevant companies and a chance to meet some of the course requirements at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai, India.

Applications should be filed online. The last date to apply is 5th August 2023. Further information including fees, accommodation and living costs, sample question papers, financial aid and other details may be found in the website: https://zanzibar.iitm.ac.in

Elaborating on the admission process, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of School of Engineering and Science and Director-in-charge, Zanzibar campus, IIT Madras, said, “The selection process will include a screening test (which is an aptitude test, covering mathematics, science, English and analytical ability), and interviews with faculty. Students who have cleared Class XII, Form VI or equivalent in the past three years are eligible to apply to the BS program while those with a 4 year UG degree in any engineering/science discipline may apply to the MTech program.”

Students in Zanzibar will also leverage IIT Madras’ stellar innovation ecosystem on campus, and have a chance to interact with a global network of IITM alumni. Financial assistance is available to deserving, meritorious students.

Interested students should apply immediately at: https://zanzibar.iitm.ac.in. Further information can be obtained by writing to the following email id – iitm_zanzibar@ge.iitm.ac.in or by contacting the following no: +91 90433 38564 (WhatsApp)

CHENNAI : The Digital Skills Academy of IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation is partnering with Zemblance Hydrocarbons Private Limited to launch a web-enabled PG Level Advanced Certification Programme in ‘Applied Petroleum Engineering & Hydrogen Energy’ (PGPEH).

This hybrid program combines web-enabled courses in Petroleum Engineering, Renewable energies and Hydrogen Energy, addressing industry requirements. With a rigorous academic curriculum and state-of-the-art research facilities, the program prepares students for success in the field.

This highly-curated program aims to bridge the gap between industry requirements and the upskilling and employability of participants with an engineering background and working professionals.

The program is led by Prof. Rajesh Nair, Professor of Petroleum Engineering Program and Lead Advisor, Zemblance Hydrocarbons, IIT-M Research Park company by collaborating with IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation. Zemblance Hydrocarbons has partnered with Ed4All for its overseas marketing in Africa, Latin America, South Asia, USA, UK, Middle East etc.

The program’s evaluation process will also include offline exams conducted at centres across India to ensure a thorough assessment and qualification of participants. The Participants must have passed graduation in engineering/technology or Master’s degree in any relevant science subject or working professionals in oil and gas industries or allied areas

Renowned Professors from academia (IIT Madras) and experienced industry experts from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation Limited, GAIL (India) & Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), among others, will offer practical insights during this web-enabled course. Outreach video of the program is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifhxV9UvvtM

Further information about the course can be obtained by writing to info@zemblance.com or visiting the following links: https://digitalskills.pravartak.org.in/course_details.php?courseID=70&cart (or) zemblance.com

A MoU towards this collaboration was signed recently by Dr. MJ Shankar Raman, Chief Executive Officer, IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation and Ms. Lakshmipriya Menon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Zemblance Hydrocarbons.

Highlighting the importance of this program, Course Prof. Rajesh Nair, Faculty in-charge (Petroleum Geomechanics Lab) and Faculty sponsor of Society of Petroleum Engineers, IITM Chapter, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, “The program is of having great significance as this is the first programme focussed on for training Engineers in a mix of generating Grey, Blue, Green Hydrogen, brown hydrogen in tandem with nations focus in achieving net zero emission. The program covers for the first time a mix of Petroleum Engineering, Renewable energy and Hydrogen Energy, all in one programme.”

Prof. Rajesh Nair added, “The launch of the PGPEH program marks a significant step forward in empowering professionals in the fields of petroleum engineering, renewable energy and hydrogen energy, fostering collaboration between academia and industry, and driving innovation and progress in the energy sector. The PGPEH program will commence on Teachers day” September 5th 2023” as a mark of tribute to the contribution made by teachers to the society.”

The MoU was signed in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Prof. Mangala Sunder Krishnan, Professor Emeritus and Coordinator, Digital Skills Academy, IIT Madras, Prof. Rajesh Nair, Faculty In-charge (Petroleum Geomechanics Lab), Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, Dr. Srinivas Reddy, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, Mr. R.K. Dhasmana, Former Executive Director, ONGC & EdTech Director, Zemblance, Mr. Bapiraju, Former CGM, CPCL, Mr. Balamurali Shankar, GM of Digital Skills Academy, IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, Mr. Madhan Gopalan, Advisor (Corp/Legal), Zemblance, and Dr. Venkatesh, CTO, Zemblance, among others.

IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation is the Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Madras. It is a Section 8 not-for-profit Company and is funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.

The Petroleum Engineering Programme at IIT Madras holds a significant position, ranking 21st globally according to the QS Ranking and being the top-ranked program in India. The university actively engages in advanced research collaborations with companies in the oil and gas industry, as well as those involved in hydrogen production.