This is the second time that the noted educational institution has won first place as far as ARIIA is concerned. ARIIA is given by Innovation Cell of Ministry of Education, Government of India.

ARIIA was launched last year by the Innovation Cell of Ministry of Education for ‘Institutions of National Importance, Central Universities and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions’ category.

The institutions that took part in ARIIA this year exceeded that of the previous year.

M. Venkaiah Naidu announced the ARIIA results on 18 August in a virtual event in the presence of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Union Minister for Education, Government of India and other officials.

Vice president Venkaiah Naidu said we have to be self-reliant. ‘Self-reliance requires us to innovate, to seek implementable solutions for developmental challenges.’

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To create a favourable environment for experimentation, India’s higher education system should play the role of an enabler and force multiplier to drive Indian innovation and start-up ecosystem, he said.

Vice president further said innovation must become the heartbeat for education. The quest for excellence should become the norm.

‘I congratulate all institutes which have secured the top honours. I would like to compliment not only the Heads but also the other faculty members and youngsters who are assisting them.’

The other Institutes should re-double their effort as this is an annual effort…Learn from the best in the world and aim to better than the best.

I hope this ARIIA ranking, named after one of India’s Illustrious Prime Minister, will inspire all higher education institutes to be ‘Atal’ (steadfast) in their commitment to creating world-class Institutions, said Vice president.

ARIIA aims to inspire Indian institutions to reorient their mind-set and build ecosystems to encourage high quality research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

More than quantity, ARIIA focuses on quality of innovations and measures the real impact created by these innovations nationally and internationally.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said innovation and hence the ARIIA will be the foundation stone for the New India which will be self-reliant.

The rankings aim to acknowledge the efforts of institutes which are coming up with new innovations and bridging the gap between industry and innovation, he said.

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IIT Madras excelled in ARIIA owning to its strong entrepreneurial eco-system that encourages students to become job-generators.

The IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) in the IITM Research Park is India’s leading deep-technology startup hub with Innovation and Impact as key differentiators/drivers.

While IITMIC handles the startups, there are other innovation platforms for students even before they graduate.

They include Nirmaan, a pre-incubator, Center for Innovation (CFI), which provides a platform to the students to ‘walk in with an idea and walk out with a product’, and the Gopalakrishnan Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship that grooms wannabe entrepreneurs.

Speaking about the IIT Madras retaining the top ranking in ARIIA, IIT Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi said the institution is known for its world-class innovation ecosystem consisting of the research park and several other centres, that has already produced world-class companies and disruptive technologies for India.

We are proud to be recognized a second time in succession as India’s top innovative educational institution under ARIIA, he said.

IITMIC houses incubators such as Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre (HTIC), Rural Technology and Business Incubator (RTBI) and Bio-Tech incubators.

IITMIC has incubated over 200 deep tech startups (Till June 2020) that have attracted VC/Angel Investor funding to the tune of US$ 235 Million and having a valuation of US$ 948 Million.

They had a cumulative revenue of US$ 61 Million in 2019-20 financial year, creating over 4,000 jobs and generating over 100 patents.

The startups are in sectors such as manufacturing, IoT, energy/renewables, healthcare/medical devices, water, edu-tech/skill development, agri-tech, robotics, AI, ML and data analytics.

Center For Innovation has augmented the ‘tech’ space in the institute wherein their projects have gone on to produce high-profile start-ups and internationally acclaimed competition teams.

‘Nirmaan’ seeks out students with ideas that have commercial potential and puts them through a one-year programme.

The GDC puts cohorts of entrepreneurs-to-be through the paces and helps them position their idea properly to meet customer needs and build a company that can deliver the product.

Other dignitaries who addressed the event include Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for Education, Amit Khare, Higher Education Secretary.

ARIIA 2020 has rankings for six categories of institutions, namely:

# Institutions of National Importance, Central Universities and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions

# Private or Self-Financed Colleges/Institutions

# Private or Self-Financed Universities

# Government and Government Aided Universities

# Government and Government aided College/Institutes

# Higher education institutions exclusively for women

This collaboration agreement seeks to capitalize on the strengths of both institutions, broadening the learning experience for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (BS) programs at IIT Madras and undergraduate programs at IIT Palakkad.

To date, over 30,000 students are actively participating in this program, fostering a vibrant and interactive learning community, say sources from IIT Palakkad.

Director of IIT Madras

Welcoming this collaboration, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said IIT Madras is committed to reach quality education to every deserving student in our country. This initiative with IIT Palakkad is a very significant step towards reaching the goals.

We are enthusiastic about mentoring these bright minds. Our courses and internships have a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and innovation, said director of IIT Palakkad.

This collaboration with IIT Madras will build a robust foundation that equips students with the skills, insights, and networks they need to excel, he said.

Key features

The key features of this collaboration include:

Ø Credit Transfer from IITPkd Courses: IIT Madras BS (Data Science and Applications) students who meet the eligibility criteria can fulfil their credit requirements by taking courses at IIT Palakkad, promoting an exchange of academic resources and expertise.

Ø Access to IIT Madras Courses for IIT Palakkad Students: The MoU allows undergraduate students at IIT Palakkad to enrol in courses on Data Science and Programming from the IIT Madras BS program, ensuring equitable access to these cutting-edge skills.

Ø Support for Additional Initiatives: The collaboration will also facilitate student exchange programs, internship opportunities, and other joint initiatives.

Commitment

This collaboration between IIT Madras and IITPkd highlights the commitment of both institutions to enrich student experiences through cross-disciplinary exposure, practical learning, and research opportunities.

It aims to create a robust academic ecosystem that utilizes the expertise and infrastructure of both IITs.

Collaboration

IIT Madras has been collaborating with other leading institutions in the country to provide in-person learning opportunities for final-year students in the BS program.

IIT Gandhinagar, IIIT Hyderabad, and Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) have already made their campus courses available to eligible students from the IIT Madras BS (Data Science) degree program.

About IIT Palakkad

Established in 2015, the Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad is dedicated to creating an environment that enables students and faculty to engage in the pursuit of knowledge, to dream, think, and innovate thereby becoming change agents for a better world.

Having begun with just 120 students in July 2015, IIT Palakkad has since grown into an establishment that is about a thousand students strong and with the best manpower in key positions.

IITPkd aims to become a multi-disciplinary institution with 5000 students by its 10th year. The Institute recognizes collective growth, in collaboration with industry and other academic institutions, as the need of the time and emphasizes blue-sky research and directed research as two essential pillars of technology development.

The Institute embraces a vision to be a leader in cross-disciplinary inquiries, and to contribute to the potential that India’s demographic dividend represents for the country and the world, which is embodied in the motto of the institute “Nurturing minds for a better world”.

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