IIT Madras Global Research Foundation, the institute’s initiative to take IIT Madras global, will establish its first Applied Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre at Dubai CommerCity
The Centre, in its first phase, will host a portfolio of six applied AI start-ups with a combined valuation of approximately $118 million and will aim to convert advanced AI capabilities into scalable, market-ready applications.
The project is expected to stimulate commercial activity, and develop intellectual property locally. It will also help in facilitating market access and investment for start-ups in the GCC region.
An MoU for the launch of the centre was signed on the sidelines of WORLDEF Dubai 2026 held earlier this month.
Amna Lootah, Director-General of Dubai CommerCity and Dubai Airport Freezone, said, “This MoU with IIT Madras Global Research Foundation marks a strategic milestone in advancing Dubai CommerCity’s role as a specialised free zone for digital trade and advanced technologies. The establishment of IITM Global’s first Applied Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre within our ecosystem reinforces our commitment to enabling innovation-led growth.”
“The launch of the Applied AI Innovation Centre in Dubai marks a pivotal step in globalising IIT Madras’ research. It strengthens the India-UAE technological bond, establishing this strategic corridor as a global benchmark for AI solutions anchored in safety and governance,” Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras, said.
Published on February 18, 2026