Chennai, Sept 3 (INB) Optics and optoelectronics giant ZEISS launched the ZEISS Innovation Hub at the IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP) to accelerate research and deep-tech collaboration, according to an official statement.
The newly launched facility aims to bridge academia, startups, researchers, and industry to translate frontier research into scalable commercial technologies. It will focus on advanced frugal engineering, harsh-environment optics, robotics, and fluid dynamics, while facilitating researcher exchanges and engagement with IIT Madras students.
The inauguration was attended by top leadership from both organizations, including ZEISS Group President and CEO Andreas Pecher, IITMRP Group CEO Natarajan Malupillai, Research Park Founder Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Head of Innovation Management (CRT) Dr Max Riedel, ZEISS India Managing Director Miguel Gonzalez Diaz, CFO Dhaval Radia, and Head of ZEISS Innovation Hub Chennai Dr Oshin Behl, it added. Speaking at the launch, Andreas Pecher said the establishment of the hub reflects the company’s confidence in India’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem and its growing significance as a strategic market. “As a foundation-owned company, ZEISS has always taken a long-term approach to innovation and sustainable growth… The dynamic ecosystem at IIT Madras Research Park provides an ideal platform to co-develop future-ready solutions and shape the next generation of technologies for India and the world,” Pecher said. Natarajan Malupillai, Group CEO, IITM Research Park & Incubation Cell, described the hub’s opening as a significant milestone for both institutions. “ZEISS brings 180 years of leadership in precision optics, microscopy and advanced engineering, while IIT Madras Research Park has built one of India’s most vibrant deep-tech innovation ecosystems. By joining hands, we have an opportunity to combine these complementary strengths to accelerate frontier research, develop globally competitive technologies to create a distinct innovation advantage that benefits both industry and society,” Malupillai said. The IIT Madras Research Park, spread over 11 acres with over 1.2 million square feet of workspace, hosts more than 250 research-driven companies and over 580 startups across multiple sectors.
