IIT Madras webinars will highlight the major research initiatives being pursued in emerging areas of global interest.

While the first webinar under the ‘IITM Research Initiatives Spotlight’ (IRIS) is scheduled to be conducted on 1 July 2021 on the topic of ‘Advanced Materials’, the first edition of the series of IIT Madras webinars will conclude in October 2021.

Speaking about IIT Madras webinars Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi said research is the centerpiece of new initiatives launched at IIT Madras as an ‘Institute of Eminence.’

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More than 300 faculty members have formed multi-disciplinary teams and identified cutting-edge challenges to explore over the next few years, said Professor Ramamurthi.

Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi is the director of IIT Madras.

The outcomes envisaged from IIT Madras webinars are:

Ø Create awareness in the scientific community regarding the research landscape at IIT Madras

Ø Outreach to the broader public to explain research themes of national and international relevance

Ø Attract bright students to pursue graduate research at IIT Madras

Ø Deepen international engagement and participation in IIT Madras research activities

Professor Raghunathan Rengaswamy, dean (global engagement) at IIT Madras spoke about the objectives behind the launch of IIT Madras webinars.

IIT Madras is reaching out to the international as well as the Indian scientific community and the public to engage with them and describe to them major research initiatives that have been launched by the Institute.

Research outcomes from these projects have the potential to catapult IIT Madras to the next level of academic excellence, thereby becoming an institute on par with the best universities in the world, he said.

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Professor T. Pradeep will speak during the lecture at the inauguration of IIT Madras webinars on 1 July about research initiatives on ‘Molecular Materials and Functions,’ being undertaken to create a globally recognized centre focusing on synthesis and study of molecular materials.

Professor Pradeep is Padma Shri Awardee and Institute Professor with Department of Chemistry at IIT Madras.

In addition, Dr. Madivala G. Basavaraj, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, will also speak about the research centre working on soft and biological matter, which will focus on structure and rheology.

IIT Madras webinars will provide an opportunity to engage in conversations with eminent faculty from IIT Madras and other international researchers and identify opportunities for collaborations in those research areas.

Ø Quantum science and technology

Ø AI and Data Science

Ø Renewable energy and materials for energy

Ø Autonomous systems

Ø Advanced manufacturing

Ø Medicine and biology, medical technology

The ‘Institute of Eminence’ (IoE) Scheme was launched by the Government of India to empower Higher Educational Institutions and help them become world-class teaching and research institutions.

IIT Madras was selected as an ‘Institute of Eminence’ in September 2019.

A highlight of the IoE initiative is that public institutions selected as ‘Institute of Eminence’ are provided financial assistance of up to Rs. 1,000 crore, over a period of five years, to help them emerge as world-class institutions.

In addition, they will be encouraged to admit foreign students and recruit foreign faculty.

About IIT Madras

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) 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.

The Institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to B.Tech., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.Tech., M.S., and Ph.D., degrees in a variety of specialisations.

IIT M is a residential institute with more than 580 faculty and 9,500 students. Students from 18 countries are enrolled here. IIT M fosters an active entrepreneurial culture with strong curricular support and through the IITM Incubation Cell.

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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