V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras (File photo) | Photo Credit: BIJOY GHOSH

India needs to adopt swadeshi technologies and innovations, and patience and a long-term approach are important for working on such developments, IIT-Madras director V Kamakoti said here on Monday.

He was speaking at Super Chennai’s Arattai series of talks. Super Chennai, an initiative by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers of India (CREDAI), also conferred its ‘Icon of the Month’ recognition for March 2026 to V Kamakoti.

The honour recognises Kamakoti’s role in strengthening India’s research ecosystem, advancing indigenous technology development, and positioning IIT Madras as a globally respected hub for innovation and interdisciplinary excellence. 

Speaking to Businessline on the sidelines of the event, he said that even before the current geopolitical tensions, the institute was seeing fewer students taking up jobs abroad after graduation. “Only about five per cent of our students are being placed in roles abroad. The rest of them want to stay back and build and solve for India,” he said. 

On the placements this year, he said that the institute has seen strong demand not just from computer science and allied courses, but also from core engineering companies

“Kamakoti embodies the spirit of Chennai — intellectually vibrant, socially committed, and globally forward-looking. His leadership at IIT Madras and contributions to India’s technology ecosystem continue to inspire the next generation of innovators and changemakers,” Ranjeeth Rathod, Managing Director, Super Chennai, said in a statement. 

Published on March 30, 2026