IIT Madras announces $7.5 M Menlo Park deep-tech hub to drive Indian innovation into Silicon Valley

New US centre to serve as a launchpad for Indian deep-tech startups

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) Global Research Foundation has announced the establishment of its first centre in the United States (US), located in Menlo Park, California, marking a significant milestone in expanding India’s deep-tech innovation footprint into global ecosystems. The announcement was made at the SelectUSA Investment Summit.

Speaking about the Park Centre, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras and Chairman of IIT-M Global, said, “This expansion into the United States represents a natural progression of IIT Madras’ vision to take Indian research and innovation to the global stage. The Menlo Park center will enable deeper collaboration with global industry leaders, academia, and venture ecosystems, fostering cutting-edge innovation and talent exchange.”

The centre will be developed with a total planned investment of $7.5 million, including a greenfield investment of $4.5 million from IIT-M Global. Strategically located near Silicon Valley, it is envisioned as a launchpad for Indian deep-tech startups to access global capital, markets, mentorship, and partnerships.

The Menlo Park centre will focus on advancing deep-tech research and commercialisation, while also serving as a hub for startup incubation and global market access. It aims to strengthen industry–academia partnerships and enable venture engagement to support the scale-up of high-potential innovations.

A planned East Coast centre will complement these efforts by connecting with leading policy, financial, and academic ecosystems, creating a more comprehensive US presence.

In parallel, IIT-M Global has also announced plans to establish a second centre on the US East Coast, further strengthening its presence across key innovation corridors.

Published on : 12th May, 2026