The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Global Research Foundation announced the establishment of its first U.S. center in Menlo Park, California, at the SelectUSA Investment Summit on May 06, 2026. Launched on April 24, 2026, in partnership with CA Startups, the center represents a strategic shift toward taking Indian deep-tech research and startups directly to global innovation hubs. The initiative involves a planned investment of US$ 7.5 million, including a US$ 4.5 million greenfield investment from IIT, Madras.

Speaking about the Park Centre, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras and Chairman of IITM Global, said, “This expansion represents a natural progression of our vision to take Indian research to the global stage, enabling deeper collaboration with global industry and venture ecosystems.” Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Director, IITM Global, added that the West Coast presence will catalyze translational research and bridge innovation between India and the U.S.

Emphasizing the global corridor, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean (Global Engagement), noted, “It will empower students and entrepreneurs to engage meaningfully with international ecosystems.” Mr. Thirumalai Madhavnarayan, CEO, IITM Global, described the center as a strategic anchor to accelerate ventures from lab to market.

The Menlo Park center will focus on deep-tech commercialization and startup incubation. Complementing this, IITM Global also announced plans for a second center on the U.S. East Coast to connect with financial and policy ecosystems.

SelectUSA is the federal program charged with promoting and facilitating business investment into the United States. The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the 4-day event that promotes the United States as a premier investment destination, connecting multinational companies with U.S. economic development organizations to facilitate business investment and job creation.

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