Andhra Pradesh plans Amaravati as deep-tech hub with ₹500 crore Pan-IIT venture fund

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced a ₹500 crore Pan-IIT Amaravati Venture Fund as part of a wider plan to develop Amaravati into a hub for deep-tech research, innovation and technology-based businesses.

The announcement was made during the Pan-IIT Andhra Pradesh Summit 2026 in Vijayawada, where the Andhra Pradesh government and Pan-IIT Alumni India also signed the Pan-IIT Amaravati Declaration.

The declaration proposes a permanent Pan-IIT Amaravati Council to connect the state government, educational institutions, industry and the IIT alumni network.

Amaravati's deep-tech push

The proposed venture fund will focus on deep-tech startups, innovation and investment. The broader partnership covers areas including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space and defence, healthcare and agritech.

The Pan-IIT Amaravati Council is expected to provide inputs for the state's Deep Tech Policy and facilitate connections between universities, startups and industry.

The initiative also envisages technology transfer from research developed through IITs and their associated innovation ecosystem to Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu has also proposed positioning Amaravati as a "Quantum Valley", with the state looking to build capabilities in quantum technology and eventually manufacture and export quantum computing equipment.

The Chief Minister said a quantum computer being developed jointly by IBM, TCS and L&T is expected to begin operations in Amaravati. Other reports have placed the expected operational date in early February 2027.

100 IIT mentors and 10 Industry Chairs

The Pan-IIT declaration includes several initiatives aimed at strengthening the link between higher education, research and industry.

A network of 100 global IIT mentors is proposed to guide startups and entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh. The state also plans to establish 10 Industry Chairs at universities and educational institutions in partnership with industry.

These chairs are intended to support research and skill development, while the wider Pan-IIT ecosystem is expected to connect Andhra Pradesh institutions with IIT expertise and resources.

The declaration also envisages strengthening the state's startup ecosystem, with a target of incubating at least 50 startups in Andhra Pradesh by 2030, according to reports on the agreement.

AI education planned from Class 6

The technology push is also expected to extend to school education.

Naidu announced plans to introduce AI and entrepreneurship learning for students from Class 6 onwards in Andhra Pradesh. The state has also discussed developing school-level curriculum around AI and deep-tech skills, with IIT expertise being considered for the exercise.

Naidu has said Andhra Pradesh aims to contribute 50 lakh AI-skilled professionals towards the national target of developing one crore AI-skilled professionals.

The proposed approach reflects the state's attempt to connect school education with emerging technology sectors and longer-term workforce requirements.

Pan-IIT network as a knowledge link

The partnership is built around Pan-IIT Alumni India's network of around five lakh IIT graduates.

Naidu has called on IIT alumni to contribute their expertise, entrepreneurial experience and technological ideas to Andhra Pradesh's development. The state government sees the network as a potential link between its educational institutions, technology companies, startups and research ecosystem.

The initiatives announced at the summit are part of a broader effort to position Andhra Pradesh as a knowledge and technology-driven economy. The proposed council, venture fund and industry partnerships will determine how these plans translate into research, startups and technology deployment in the state.