In an interactive session with the students at IIT-M, he referred to aspects such as technologies, AI and strategic autonomy. “India must build domestic capability, be globally connected and protect critical sectors,” he said. He gave 5 G and defence innovation as examples.
He highlighted India’s role as an emerging voice of the global south and noted that India’s diplomatic efforts focussed on delivering tangible outcomes in areas such as development and technology.
Dr S Jaishankar said that countries had grown by growing at home and then engaging abroad, leveraging the international environment in a way that contributed to it and gained from it.
Talking about the limitation of resources in India today, he said that the limitation of resources was the problem that needed to be solved and Indian policy actually tried to solve that problem by partly using competitiveness, using aspects and liberating other institutions and possibilities.
As an example, he cited the IIT-M campus in Tanzania as a way that foreign policy had liberated the capabilities of an institution to make a huge impact at the IIT-M event.
The discussion also focused on citizen-centred diplomacy. Dr S Jaishankar said that “The protection of Indians abroad, through enhanced consular services and evacuation operations during crises, has become a core pillar of India’s external engagement”.
Talking about education, he said that education and skills were India’s diplomatic tool and Indians going abroad would return with experience, networks and capital.
The minster launched the IIT-M Global Research Foundation, marking the first multinational university that focuses on the expansion of academic programs, facilitating research and consultancy partnerships, global scaling of growth-stage start-ups and IP Llcensing and partnerships.
As part of the IIT-M global rollout, IIT Madras has signed a series of high-impact memoranda of understanding with leading multinational institutions and partners across key global regions. These include MoUs with companies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Dubai. MoUs have also been signed with companies in Singapore and Malaysia.
Dr S. Jaishankar also inaugurated the ‘IIT-M Festival Fortnight,’ which includes the Open House, through which the public is given access to IIT-M’s labs and innovation centres, Shaastra, the annual technical festival and Saarang, the annual cultural festival.
Addressing the gathering, Professor. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said IITM Global was designed as a dynamic ‘plug-and-play’ framework that enabled deep-tech innovators, researchers, start-ups and industry partners to access global markets, capital and research opportunities. Anchored in IIT Madras’ world-class faculty, advanced infrastructure and strong industry linkages, IIT-M Global seeks to drive innovation and entrepreneurship with a clear focus on societal impact.