IIIT-Bangalore co-hosts Data Power Conference
The 5th International Data Power Conference was held from 4th-6th September 2024 in a hybrid format with IIIT-Bangalore (through its Centre for IT and Public Policy) and University of Graz, Austria serving as host institutions. The conference theme for 2024 was ‘Situating Data Practices beyond Data Universalism’.
More details are at https://datapowerconference.org/data-power-2024/about-2024/
September 5
Blood Donation Drive at IIIT-Bangalore
On September 5, 2024, Aikyam successfully hosted a blood donation camp inside the campus. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and encourage students and staff to participate. Over 120 units of blood were collected, making a significant impact on the local community.
September 7-9
Students Unite to Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at IIIT-Bangalore
Shuklambaradharam Vishnum Shashivaranam Chaturbhujam Prasannavadanam Dhyayet Sarva Vighnopa Shantaye
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most vibrantly celebrated festivals in India, where people from all walks of life come together to celebrate spirituality and devotion. During this festival, an idol of Lord Ganesha is brought home, and on various days, the visarjan (immersion) of the idol is carried out with great devotion. This festival invoked patriotism and a sense of community, especially during the time of independence.
Lord Ganesha is associated with wisdom, intelligence, and knowledge, making him a prominent figure for students. He is often depicted with a large head and a small mouth, symbolizing great intellect and thoughtful speech. To celebrate this day, a procession with Lord Ganesha idol was held around the campus of IIIT-Bangalore. After the procession, a pooja was held, during which all students gathered to seek blessings from Ganesha. They prayed for his guidance in eliminating any challenges, distractions, and difficulties. In the evening, open mic was conducted and many stepped forward to express their devotion to God through heartfelt songs. Then aarti was offered to God by singing bhajans. The sound of clapping during the bhajans echoed through the air, reflecting the deep devotion of students. The day concluded with an energetic Garba dance.
After two days of heartfelt prayers to Lord Ganesha, the time had come to bid him a farewell. It began with the uttarpooja with poojari’s blessings, followed by aarti. Lord Ganesha was then taken in a grand procession around the college. Along the way, students danced to rhythmic beats of drums, joyfully throwing colours on one another. They danced with joy and enthusiasm by chanting “Ganapathi Bappa Morya!”. Ganesha was then immersed in a sacred kund with devotion, gratitude and hope for his return next year.
-Article by Branding Committee
September 8
Bengaluru Chapter of IIT Bombay’s Mood Indigo Hosted at IIIT-Bangalore
On September 8th, IIIT-Bangalore hosted the Bengaluru chapter of one of Asia’s largest cultural festivals, Mood Indigo, in collaboration with IIT Bombay. After tremendous preparation, the two institutes put together several events that were conducted on campus throughout the day- including Aagaaz (Nukkad Natak), Mantra (Battle of the Bands), MI Idol (Solo Hindi Singing), Speak Up (Turncoat Debate), Singing The Indigos (Solo English Singing), Slam Poetry, Mr. and Miss Bangalore, Chosen One (Solo Acting), Third Bell (Stage Play), MI The Best (Solo Acting), Mime (Silent Theatre Play), and Desi Beats (Group Bollywood Dance).
Students, volunteers, and organising committee members came together with great vigour and enthusiasm to realise the vision of Mood Indigo in our campus. Students participated in the events as well as in the extensive background work, as part of several committees, to bring the event to life. Several of IIIT-Bangalore’s own clubs also took part in the events, including Parvaaz (Drama Club) performing their play Chandini for Third Bell; as well as Broken Bottle and Symphony’s (Music Club) bands for Mantra. We even had several talented solo performers for Turncoat Debate, Slam Poetry and MI Idol.
There was fierce competition amongst the participants, with each of them giving grand and outstanding performances- starting with the Nukkad Natak in the morning, to the Battle of Bands in the afternoon, and ending with a bang with the Desi Beats event at night. Further, there was a canteen, Food Indigo, which made a plethora of snacks and meals available to all who attended the event. The crowd milled about the campus, cheering for the performers, making it livelier than ever.
All in all, the event was a huge success- with all attendees taking home memories, instilled with the spirit of culture and competition within them.
-Article by Branding Committee
September 11-12
Cyber Security Essentials Programme
IIIT-Bangalore organized a Cybersecurity Essentials Programme for Government of Karnataka officials. This programme is supported by Center for Technology Research and Innovation – Digital Governance (CTRI-DG). A total of 44 officials attended the training programme and received certificates.
September 13-15
IIIT-Bangalore Premier League Auctions Ignite Excitement
From 13th -15th September IIIT-Bangalore has held its 1st phase of the annual Premier League. The auctions were held with great zeal on 10th September with owners of the various teams bidding points on the players of their choice. Diverse and skilled teams were formed rapidly with players from various batches of the college coming together as one.
After two days of rigorous practice, the teams were in full form for the fierce competition in the days to come. The players squared up against each other in several games offered by the college including Volleyball, Throwball, Power Lifting, Football, Table Tennis and Chess. Finals were conducted on Sunday with the audience sitting with bated breath to see who would emerge victorious.
The league not only showcased the raw talent but also brought up the spirit of sportsmanship amongst the players as well as the audience.
-Article by Branding Committee
September 14
IIIT-Bangalore Concludes the Largest Global Graduation Ceremony with upGrad
IIIT-Bangalore has recently concluded one of the largest graduating cohorts of the year with nearly 4000 learners joining from India and globally.
The event honored learners – both India and International, completing various online certifications and postgraduate programmes in Data Science, Software Development, and Machine Learning & AI.
Dr. Vivek Raghavan, Co-Founder of Sarvam AI, graced the ceremony as the chief guest. The other dignitaries included: Co-founder of upGrad – Ronnie Screwvala along with Prof. Debabrata Das (Director of IIIT-B), Prof. Chandrashekar Ramanathan (Dean Academics, IIIT-B), Prof. V Sridhar (Faculty in-charge, Continuing Profesional Education, IIIT-B), and SR Sridhar ( (Registrar, IIIT-B), and.
Dr. Vivek Raghavan, Co-Founder, Sarvam AI, “Learning is a lifelong process. We must continuously reinvent ourselves, acquiring new skills to stay relevant. Embrace curiosity and be open to new opportunities, as the tools of today, like generative AI, are transforming industries. It is our responsibility to leverage these technologies efficiently. The power of AI has the potential to democratize education and healthcare, making them accessible to all. India’s youth will drive this transformation, making us a leader in AI adoption.”
Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, said, “”You have a critical role in shaping the future of our nation. Your hard work will not only drive your success but also support India’s ambitious goal of reaching a $1 trillion digital economy by 2026. Through collaboration, continuous learning, and leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies, we can strive towards excellence and make meaningful contributions to society.”
Mr. Ronnie Screwvala highlighted the nearly decade-long partnership between upGrad and IIIT-B, emphasizing their shared commitment to building a knowledge economy. “This partnership started in 2016 is a testament to IIIT-B’s visionary approach, recognizing the revolutionary potential of online education. All the learners have made a wise choice in pursuing curiosity and continuous learning. Life is about the choices we make, and these choices will define us. Time is a valuable resource—balance action with reflection as technology and the world evolve rapidly. In this fast-paced environment, taking moments to reflect will keep you grounded and focused on your personal and professional growth.”
September 17
Milan: Farmer Producer Organizations Pathway Towards Digital Agriculture Workshop
In a move to drive the digital transformation of India’s agricultural sector, encouraging collaboration between innovators and farmers, and building a more resilient, sustainable and profitable farming ecosystem, IIIT-B Innovation Center organized a workshop chaired by Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, Chief Executive Officer, Innovation Centre and Executive VP, COMET Foundation.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to Agritech and emphasized the importance of applying technological solutions across various programs for the greater benefit of society. A panel discussion titled “Building Digital Scalable Platforms for Indian Societal Good,” was moderated by Prof. Ramesh Kestur, IIIT-Bangalore. The panel explored key challenges in digitizing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), the need to diversify their activities, and strategies to implement effective digital solutions.
Six startups and twelve FPOs participated in the workshop, presenting their innovative ideas. Later, an expert committee matched startups with suitable FPOs to foster collaborative partnerships. The interactive session that followed allowed startups and FPOs to discuss their strengths and align their efforts for future collaboration.
September 18-19
IIIT-B Hosts Tanzanian Delegation for High-Level Workshop
On September 18-19 IIIT-Bangalore and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-hosted a High-Level Workshop for a visiting Tanzanian delegation at IIIT-B.
Experts from MOSIP, OpenG2P, the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI), and NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) led sessions on topics such as national ID systems, service delivery, payments, credentialing, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
During the workshop, the delegation explored MOSIP’s platform and its capabilities for building secure, scalable national identity systems. The sessions highlighted MOSIP’s efforts in Africa, focusing on financial inclusion and immigration. Attendees also participated in live demonstrations at the MOSIP Experience Centre, gaining firsthand insights into digital ID enrollment and its applications through OpenG2P.
This event provided a vital platform for knowledge exchange, highlighting the role of digital identity in promoting inclusive development across various sectors.
September 18
IIIT-Bangalore Celebrates 26 Years of Excellence
On 18th September 2024, IIIT-Bangalore celebrated 26 glorious years of continued excellence in the spheres of academics, research and culture. This Foundation Day; students, faculty members and staff gathered to flag off yet another year of merit, rigour, and distinction.
The event began with the ceremonial lamp lighting to symbolise dispelling darkness and ushering in knowledge, wisdom and creativity. It was followed by a cake cutting and a speech by our esteemed Director Prof. Debabrata Das. Certificates were awarded to students on the Dean’s Merit List, Student Activities Council, and Aikyam for their blood donation drive. After this, the audience was enthralled by a number of performances orchestrated by the slew of cultural clubs of IIIT-B; including four melodious musical numbers by Symphony, a dance performance by Impulse, and a classical collaboration between the two. Further, we had an adaptation of ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’ by Parvaaz, as well as several other independent performers from the staff and the faculty members.
As we enter our 27th year, we look backward with gratitude and forward with anticipation; in hopes of reaching new heights, breaking barriers, and further achievements. May the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and learning continue to thrive within our walls.
-Article by Branding Committee
September 20-22
ZenLegacy Hackathon by Zense
From September 20th to 22nd, ZenLegacy, a hackathon at IIIT-Bangalore, brought together bright minds to compete in three tracks. The event was sponsored by KubeNine and organized by Zense, the tech club of IIIT-Bangalore.
There were three tracks in the event:
-> GenAI: Building AI-driven applications using Langchain.
-> Computer Vision: Developing systems to detect and analyze user movements.
-> IoT: Creating innovative connectivity solutions.
The hackathon was marked by intense problem-solving, learning, and collaboration. Vikas Yadav, KubeNine founder and IIIT-Bangalore alumnus, mentored participants. Zen Legacy concluded with some wonderful ideas and implementations from the participants.
September 25
Onam Celebrations at IIIT-Bangalore: A Day of Joy and Unity
On September 25, 2024, IIIT-Bangalore celebrated Onam in style, bringing everyone together for a day of joy and cultural richness. The festivities began with a delicious mini Sadhya, featuring a variety of traditional Kerala dishes that fostered a sense of camaraderie among students, faculty, and staff.
Following the meal, Prof. R. Chandrashekar, Dean (Academics), Prof. Shrisha Rao, Dean (Faculty), Prof. Manisha Kulkarni, Dean (Student Affairs), Cmde S R Sridhar (Retd.), Registrar, and S. Piramanayagam, Chief Finance Officer, inaugurated the event.
The atmosphere came alive with the rhythmic beats of Chenda Melam, captivating everyone present. The graceful Thiruvathira dance, performed by a group of students, showcased the vibrant traditions of Kerala.
After the cultural performances, the attendees engaged in a variety of fun games, including Uriyadi, Vadamvali, Tug of Wars, Lemon and Spoon Race, and Musical Chairs. These activities sparked laughter, friendly competition and strengthened friendships across the diverse community.
Overall, the Onam celebration at IIIT-Bangalore was a beautiful blend of tradition, fun, and unity. It reminded us of the spirit of togetherness that festivals embody. Here’s to more such joyous occasions!
-Article by Athira Rajendran, Front Desk, IIIT-Bangalore
September 27, 2024
Memorandum of Understanding Between IIIT-B Innovation Centre and Sungkyunkwan University Startup Support Foundation
Innovation Centre at International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) and Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) Startup Support Foundation signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 27, 2024, at the Natural Science Campus of SKKU in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
This MoU is aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange to strengthen startup support between universities in India and South Korea. The primary objectives of this partnership include:
- Supporting startups from both institutions in exploring business opportunities in India and South Korea.
- Facilitating connections between startup-related institutions in both countries.
- Jointly organizing startup-related seminars, workshops, and networking events.
