The Discovery Campus of IIT Madras is located at Thaiyur near Chennai to accomodate the growing research infrastructure requirements of students and faculty.

The land for establishing this unit of IIT Madras was possible thanks to generosity of late J. Jayalalithaa.

IIT Madras gets great Discovery Campus, PM Modi inaugurates

This satellite campus of IIT Madras will host state-of-the-art standalone research centres with large dedicated facilities.

This campus of IIT Madras will have its own support infrastructure such as hostels for the research scholars and fellows, common instrumentation laboratories, and conference facilities, among other amenities.

Research activities at IIT Madras have grown exponentially during the last decade.

These activities got a boost after it was declared an ‘Institution of Eminence’ in 2019. Fuelled by the research successes in several fields, large research centres are being funded by various ministries and agencies of the Government of India as well as industry sponsors.

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Many of these centres require dedicated facilities to be created, which in turn require space.

Given the rapidly expanding research footprint of IIT Madras and the need to create world-class research facilities quickly over the next decade, the satellite campus at Thaiyur has been planned primarily as a research campus.

After the pioneering IIT Madras Research Park established in 2010-2017, the IIT Madras Discovery Campus will be next iconic facility to be created by IIT Madras.

Two research centres have already been planned for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras and would be operational by end of 2021.

It will house the country’s first large (95mx65m) ‘Shallow Water Basin’ facility for coastal and estuarine research and industrial applications.

This basin can emulate the entire Gulf of Kutch or the mouth of the River Hoogly, for example.

The Centre will also have a 360-degree (ship’s) bridge simulator dedicated for studies involving operations at all major Indian ports.

The second research centre to come up in the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras is the ‘Solid Propellant Combustion Modelling Facility’ of the Centre of Propulsion Technology, which is funded by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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This Modelling Facility will be the first facility to be established under the Centre of Propulsion Technology at IIT M.

These research infrastructures will make the Discovery Campus a magnet for the most exciting advanced research being carried out anywhere, and a beehive of discovery.

The campus will see a steady stream of international scientists and students.

Along with the unique Main Campus and the IIT Madras Research Park, the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras will take IIT M to the top of the league among the universities of the world.

About IIT Madras

Indian Institute of Technology Madras  was established in 1959 by the Government of India as an ‘Institute of National Importance.’

The activities of the Institute in various fields of Science and Technology are carried out in 16 academic departments and several advanced interdisciplinary research academic centres.

IIT M is a residential institute with more than 580 faculty and 9,500 students. Students from 18 countries are enrolled here.

IITM fosters an active entrepreneurial culture with strong curricular support and through the IITM Incubation Cell.

IIT M has been ranked No.1 in the ‘Overall’ Category for the second consecutive year in India Ranking 2020 released by National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The Institute has also been ranked No.1 in the ‘Engineering Institutions’ category in the same Rankings for five consecutive years – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

It was also adjudged as the ‘Top innovative Institution’ in the country in Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) in 2019 and 2020. ARIIA Ranking was launched by the Innovation Cell of Ministry of Education.

The technology was developed by Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team from the Department of Chemical Engineering in IIT Kanpur.

To facilitate its widespread adoption, IIT Kanpur has signed a technology transfer MoU with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

The pact was signed in the presence of Prof. Raja Angamuthu, Associate Dean of Research & Development, IIT Kanpur and Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (Inventor).

Device

The Soil Nutrient Sensing Device is a compact, smartphone-compatible innovation that provides real-time soil nutrient analysis, addressing the critical gap in timely soil testing for Indian farmers, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Traditionally reliant on district laboratories, farmers often face delays in receiving soil health assessments, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Portability

Designed for portability and ease of use, the device can assess multiple soil parameters simultaneously, storing data on a cloud server, with a single charge supporting up to 250 tests, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

This pioneering device leverages Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy to deliver instant soil health insights directly to a smartphone, eliminating the need for chemical reagents and complex testing processes.

By enabling precise nutrient management, the technology has the potential to transform agriculture, enhancing crop productivity, reducing fertilizer overuse, and contributing to both improved farmer incomes and environmental sustainability, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

By providing instant, reagent-free testing with Near Infrared Spectroscopy, this technology empowers farmers to make informed decisions, optimize fertilizer use, and boost productivity, he said.

Through our collaboration with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies, we aim to transform Indian agriculture and take this pioneering innovation to global markets, supporting the vision of sustainable farming practices, he said.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team for this groundbreaking development, he said.

Inventor

Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (inventor) said their development is a culmination of years of research and hard work aimed at addressing the real challenges farmers face in soil health assessment.

It’s truly gratifying to see this innovation, which offers immediate and accuratesoil analysis, now being transferred to ScaNxt Scientific Technologies for broader adoption, said Prof Jayant Kumar of IIT Kanpur.

This device not only empowers farmers with instant insights but also supports the creation of a national soil stack, aiding in better fertilizer management and promoting sustainability, he said.

I am excited to witness the positive impact it will have, both on the ground and at the policy level, as it contributes to a more sustainable and efficient agricultural landscape, he said.

Their collaboration with IIT Kanpur through the joint MoU will allow us to advance soil testing technologies further, integrating micro and secondary nutrient analysis into our BhuParikshak device, he said.

By combining NIR Spectroscopy, IoT, and AI/ML, we aim to provide farmers with even more precise and actionable data to optimize nutrient management and drive sustainable agricultural growth, he said.

Market and collaboration

The Indian soil testing equipment market, currently valued at approximately USD 114.43 million as of 2024, is set for significant expansion.

Driven by the increasing demand for efficient agricultural productivity solutions and the need for climate resilience, this market is projected to reach USD 145.83 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.08%.

This collaboration sets the stage for a transformative shift in soil health management, equipping farmers with immediate, data-driven insights and promoting sustainable agricultural practices both in India and globally.

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