The new year dawned upon IIIT-Bangalore with chilly winter mornings, warm camaraderie, and an unwavering spirit of exploration and achievement. January was a month of milestones, celebrations, and breakthroughs, setting a promising tone for the year ahead.
The most distinguished moment of the month was Prof. Debabrata Das, Director delivering a compelling presentation at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva during the Citizens Stacks Conference. His address reinforced IIIT-B’s global leadership in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), showcasing the institute’s pivotal role in shaping technological advancements worldwide.
On the home front, IIIT-B achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the Samsung Chip Design Studio, in collaboration with Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR), set to transform VLSI education, providing hands-on circuit design, simulation, and characterization experience.
January also witnessed Confluence 2025, the institute’s flagship event, celebrating creativity, innovation, and collaboration. This year’s theme, Cadence of Creations, explored the beauty of patterns in nature, technology, and design, featuring an inspiring lineup of speakers and thought leaders.
Enhancing the intellectual vibrancy, IIIT-B and the University of Toronto hosted the ‘AI and the City’ conference, uniting experts from 22 institutions across 11 countries to explore AI-driven solutions for urban governance, climate adaptation, and smart cities.
Amidst these milestones, students shone on global platforms, excelling at various conferences and competitions. IIIT-B also celebrated a major patent grant for CNN hardware innovation, a proud achievement in its research journey. Further, IIIT-B was thrilled to welcome Prof. Sanghashri Mukhopadhyay and Prof. Aswin Kannan as its newest faculty members.
The campus was alive with festivities as students came together for a joyous two-day celebration of Makar Sankranti, Lohri, and Pongal, followed by Republic Day, where patriotism lit up the institute. The annual Spandan sports festival energized the campus, fostering friendly competition across three days of thrilling events. A mesmerizing musical workshop by Dr. Kerry Kriger added a soulful touch to the month’s celebrations.
With new projects, bold challenges, and a collective passion to reach greater heights, January has set the stage for another remarkable year at IIIT-B. Here’s to new beginnings, innovation, and a future filled with endless possibilities!