From flood relief to farming and the frontlines, Prof. Spandan Roy is rethinking how machines learn to act in the real world. “Even if you don’t know the system… can you still control it?” It’s not the kind of question that usually opens a talk on robotics. But for Prof. Spandan Roy, it defines everything and sets the context for his work at the Robotics Research Center at IIITH. In theory, engineering is neat. Systems obey equations; forces can be calculated; outcomes predicted. In practice, especially in the world of flying machines, things are far less tidy. A drone in flight isn’t just governed by clean physical laws; it’s constantly negotiating wind, drag, shifting payloads, and environmental disturbances that are difficult, if not impossible, to model precisely. For someone without a traditional mechanical background, as Prof. Roy admits of himself, this gap becomes even more pronounced.

AIC-IIIT-H Foundation, the social tech incubator of IIIT-H, in partnership with EPAM Systems, has selected 6 high-impact GreenTech startups for its 4th cohort for the Akash EPAM-SIIP. Following a rigorous selection process, 11 applicants out of 130+ national applicants pitched to a distinguished jury, with 6 ventures selected for their potential to advance India’s UN SDG commitments focused on Climate Action (SDG 13). By bridging the gap between academic research and market-ready innovation, the program empowers startups to solve critical environmental challenges in sectors like Green Energy, Circularity and Climate Action. It offers a comprehensive growth platform, including a ₹5 lakh grant, access to IIIT-H labs, faculty and the Smart City Lab Test Bed for validation, along with mentorship and business coaching from EPAM experts and industry veterans to refine models for large-scale social impact.

IIIT-H convened an industry–academia roundtable and workshop on “Quantum Technologies for Life Sciences” in association with NITI Aayog. Bringing together researchers, industry leaders, startups, and policymakers to explore how quantum computing and sensing to understand the opportunities and use cases for Quantum Computing in life sciences can address complex challenges in healthcare, biology, and drug discovery. The event had brainstorming sessions, invited talks, and panel discussions among experts from academia, industry, and government, with the broader vision of understanding the potential impact of quantum technologies on various life science challenges where quantum technologies could fundamentally reshape research paradigms and enable next-generation innovations.