The Indian Institute of Technology Madras Global Research Foundation (IITM Global) has set up its first centre in the United States, marking a major milestone in the global expansion of India's deeptech innovation ecosystem.
The centre, located in Menlo Park, California, was officially announced on May 6, 2026, during the SelectUSA Investment Summit, a premier US event focused on promoting international business investment, according to a statement.
The initiative is being viewed as a pioneering step among Indian Institutes of Technology, reflecting a strategic shift toward taking Indian research, innovation, and deep-tech startups directly into global markets and technology ecosystems. IITM Global said the West Coast centre was launched on April 24, 2026, in partnership with CA Startups, creating a collaborative foundation for its US expansion plans.
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The Menlo Park centre, located near Silicon Valley, is envisioned as a launchpad for Indian startups and researchers seeking access to global capital, mentorship, markets, and technology partnerships. The centre will focus on advancing deeptech research and commercialisation while supporting startup incubation and international market access.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and Chairman of IITM Global, said the expansion represented a natural progression of the institution's vision to take Indian innovation to the world stage.
"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," he said.
The project will be developed with a planned investment of $7.5 million, including a greenfield investment of $4.5 million from IITM Global.
Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Director of IITM Global, said the centre would help catalyse translational research and strengthen India-US technology collaboration.
"Our West Coast presence positions us at the heart of global technology innovation. This centre will catalyse translational research, scale deep-tech startups, and build enduring partnerships that bridge India and the United States," he said.
Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras, said the initiative would create a seamless innovation corridor between India and the US, enabling students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to engage more effectively with global ecosystems.
IITM Global also announced plans to establish a second centre on the US East Coast to strengthen connections with leading policy, financial, and academic institutions, creating a broader American innovation network for Indian deep-tech ventures.