Bangalore, July 05, 2026: The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) hosted its 26th annual convocation today. The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest, Professor Rajat Moona, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar; Guest of Honour, Dr.V Veerappan, Cofounder and President, Tessolve Semiconductor & Chairman ELCITA. The ceremony was presided over by the IIIT-Bangalore Governing Body Chairman, Padma Bhushan Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan in the presence of Dr. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore.

The ceremony that took place on the serene campus of IIIT-Bangalore saw 316 students graduate from the institute. The students were from various academic programs: 95 graduates from the Integrated Master of Technology, 175 from the Master of Technology, 32 from the Master of Science by Research, and 14 PhD scholars.

This year, one of the students’ from Integrated M.Tech. program has secured a record package of 1.5 crore, with two students securing packages of ₹1.3 crore. Over 22 students have secured annual salary packages exceeding 60 lakhs, 27 students have received packages between 40-60 lakhs, and over 110 students have been offered packages above 20 lakhs per annum. These impressive figures highlight IIIT-B’s commitment to excellence in teaching and research by hard work of students and the high regard in which our graduates are held by top employers.

The Convocation also marked two significant milestones in the Institute’s journey. IIIT-Bangalore celebrated the graduation of its 100th PhD scholar in Computer Science and Engineering, Dr. Vikas, a neurosurgeon from NIMHANS whose work exemplifies the transformative power of interdisciplinary research and underscores the profound convergence of medicine and deep technology. The Institute also crossed the landmark figure of 5,000+ alumni, further strengthening its global community of innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

Congratulating the students on their graduation, Dr. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, said, “The graduating Class of 2026 has demonstrated exceptional talent, resilience, and a spirit of innovation across academics, research, entrepreneurship, sports, and the arts. Our students have excelled in prestigious national and international competitions, secured top honours in hackathons and programming contests, published impactful research, and contributed to cutting-edge innovations in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Digital Public Infrastructure, Communication, Semiconductor Design, Healthcare Technologies, and Software Systems etc. As our graduates embark on their next journey, I encourage them to remain curious, embrace lifelong learning, and use technology with purpose and responsibility. The theme of this year’s Convocation, ‘Wings of Excellence,’ reflects our belief that true excellence lies not only in professional success but also in creating a positive impact on society. I am confident that our graduates will continue to make their alma mater and the nation proud.”

The highlights of the ceremony included recognizing outstanding student achievements through a series of prestigious awards and medals. The Institute Gold Medal for M.Tech. was awarded to Singuru Manognya, while Subhajeet Lahiri received the Institute Gold Medal for Integrated M.Tech. The Sir M. Visvesvaraya Scholarship Awards were conferred on Subhajeet Lahiri and Ketaki Srikrishna Tamhanakar. The Mrs Uma & Late Prof. Mahabala Medals for Best Outgoing M.Tech. Students were awarded to Shubh Sanjaykumar Patel and Singuru Manognya. Siddharth Kothari received the Sitaram Jindal Gold Medal and was also honoured with the Late Sri N. Rama Rao Medal for Best Outgoing Student (Male), while Yukta Arvind Rajapur received the corresponding medal for Best Outgoing Student (Female). The Ravi Ravindran Gold Medal for the Best PhD Thesis was awarded to Tushar Vrind. The Institute Medals for contributions to community and professional life were conferred on Sankalp Kothari and Daksh Sharma, respectively. The Late Sri N. Rama Rao Medal for Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Anshu Jain, an alumnus of the M.Tech. 2003–05 batch.

IIIT-Bangalore has started India’s first Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Division in academia. IIIT-B’s DPI and R&D products are being used in over 40 countries and serving 200 million citizens. Tele-MANAS, the national tele-mental health platform developed by IIIT-B, has crossed 40 lakh calls.

Since its establishment in 1998, IIIT-Bangalore has consistently achieved outstanding placement results, year after year. This success is largely due to the support from the industry and the ever-growing network of talented and accomplished alumni.

The workshop was graced by eminent dignitaries including Mr. Nithin Chakki, KAS, General Manager, KITS, Government of Karnataka, Cmd. Sridhar, Registrar, IIIT-B, Mr. Prakash Balekundri, CEO, Unique Patent Solutions and Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, CEO of IIIT-B Innovation Centre, who shared their insights on the importance of institutional support for innovation and the strategic role of intellectual property rights (IPR) in academic research.

The event focused on strengthening the capabilities of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) within institutions, emphasizing the journey from ideation to patent filing. Topics such as identifying patentable research, screening innovations, and enhancing patentability were covered in depth, supported by real-world examples and expert-led discussions.

IIIT-B  as  a  NAIN 2.0 anchor institute  facilitated workshop to its associated  NHIs centres namely Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bapuji Institute of Engineering & Technology, Davangere, Malnad College of Engineering, Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering, and St. Philomena College, Puttur. Their active involvement reflected the growing commitment among Tier-2 city institutions to build strong IPR ecosystems.

Organized by the IIIT-B Innovation Centre in collaboration with Startup Karnataka and the Department of IT, BT, Government of Karnataka, the workshop marks another important milestone in Karnataka’s mission to drive innovation through academic and research excellence.

As highlighted by Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, “We are witnessing a surge in breakthrough ideas from students and faculty across Karnataka. It is essential to guide these innovators in protecting their work, commercializing it, and contributing meaningfully to the economy.”

Such initiatives reaffirm the state’s commitment to fostering a knowledge-driven startup culture and ensuring that groundbreaking ideas don’t remain confined to the lab, but evolve into scalable, real-world solutions.

About IIIT-B Innovation Centre

The IIIT-B Innovation Center, based at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B), is a dynamic hub for fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and cutting-edge research dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and industry, the center serves as a vital platform for transforming academic insights into practical, real-world solutions.

As a not-for-profit Section 8 company hosted by IIIT-Bangalore, the Innovation Center offers state-of-the-art incubation facilities, advanced labs, and access to expert mentorship. It supports projects across various domains, including artificial intelligence, data science, Internet of Things (IoT), and digital health. Having supported over 100 startups, the center plays a pivotal role in nurturing emerging talent and driving technological advancements, positioning itself as a key enabler of innovation and collaboration in India’s tech ecosystem.

The partnership is designed to foster stronger ties between academia and industry, with key objectives including:

·         Advancing research in cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and real-world solutions.

·         Bridging the gap between industry and academia through collaborative projects.

·         Providing students with industry exposure to prepare them for future technological advancements.

·         Enhancing skill development through hands-on training and experiential learning.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, said:

“We are delighted to collaborate with NOKIA Research and Development in Bangalore as this is a great opportunity for shaping the future of technology. The partnership will empower collaboration with cutting-edge areas like communication and Digital Twin, etc., while driving innovation in emerging technologies. By bridging academia and industry, we aim to focus on translatable research and create solutions that benefit businesses, society, and the future workforce alike.”

This MoU marks a significant step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration, ensuring that students are well-equipped to contribute to the rapidly evolving tech landscape.