New Delhi, March 18, 2025 – The Center of Competence (CoC) at IIT Tirupati was officially inaugurated on March 17, 2025, by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, DST Secretary, Prof. K. N. Satyanarayana, Director, IIT Tirupati, and Mr. Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India. This initiative follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Esri India and IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF), aiming to accelerate geospatial education, research, and industry applications, further strengthening India’s position as a global leader in Geographic Information System (GIS) innovation.
Empowering Future Geospatial Leaders
The CoC will provide students, researchers, and startups access to cutting-edge GIS tools, training programs, and real-world applications. The collaboration is set to drive advancements in land management, urban planning, transportation, and drone-based geospatial analytics, paving the way for groundbreaking solutions to real-world challenges.
Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, DST Secretary, emphasized the critical role of academia-industry collaboration in shaping India’s geospatial workforce:
“Strengthening ties between academia and industry is key to equipping students with essential skill sets and spatial intelligence. The Center of Competence at IIT Tirupati will not only enhance job opportunities but also empower young minds to develop geospatial solutions addressing India’s challenges.”
A Step Towards Industry-Ready Geospatial Talent
Highlighting IIT Tirupati’s commitment to fostering innovation, Prof. K. N. Satyanarayana, Director, IIT Tirupati, said:
“This partnership with Esri India will provide students, startups, and professionals access to state-of-the-art geospatial technologies. By integrating industry-driven training and fostering research excellence, we aim to cultivate a new generation of skilled geospatial experts who will drive technological and economic progress.”
Bridging Academia and Industry with Advanced GIS Technologies
Underscoring Esri India’s vision for the initiative, Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, stated:
“The rise of geospatial technologies—driven by satellite and drone data, AI/ML integration, and advanced analytics—creates vast career opportunities. Through this Center of Competence, we aim to equip students and professionals with cutting-edge GIS skills, fostering innovation across industries and building a future-ready geospatial workforce.”
Paving the Way for Innovation and Industry Collaboration
The event also highlighted key industry partnerships, research breakthroughs, and startup advancements in geospatial technologies. A showcase of emerging geospatial startups demonstrated innovative applications in GIS, satellite mapping, and AI-powered analytics, reaffirming India’s leadership in geospatial technology.
With this strategic initiative, Esri India and IIT Tirupati are poised to transform India’s geospatial landscape, nurturing talent, fostering research, and driving industry innovation on a global scale.
