The government of Andhra Pradesh announced a sweeping set of initiatives aimed at turning the state into a worldwide centre for knowledge and technology. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu used the platform of the inaugural Pan-IIT Andhra Pradesh Summit 2026 in Vijayawada to call on the nation’s 500,000-strong IIT alumni network for guidance, investment and mentorship.
In a statement that blended ambition with concrete numbers, Naidu detailed a plan that couples policy, finance and human capital. A Rs 500 crore venture fund dedicated to DeepTech startups will be created, a permanent Pan-IIT Council will be stationed in Amaravati, and a cadre of 100 seasoned IIT mentors will be tasked with nurturing emerging entrepreneurs.
Pan-IIT Council and the alumni network
The summit formalised the creation of the Pan-IIT World Council, a body that will bring together alumni from all 23 Indian Institutes of Technology. According to the Chief Minister, the council will function as “one of the world’s largest academic and professional networks,” offering continuous, subject-specific advice to the state. Its remit includes updating university curricula, guiding the design of sectoral clusters and advising on the rollout of emerging technologies such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
In practical terms, the council will act as a liaison between the state’s industrial policy and the expertise of IIT graduates working in global corporations, research labs and startups. Naidu emphasized that the council will help embed entrepreneurial skills from Class VI onward, ensuring that the next generation can seamlessly transition into the state’s high-tech ecosystem.
Rs 500 cr DeepTech venture fund and mentorship programme
The newly announced Pan-IIT Amaravati Venture Fund is earmarked for DeepTech ventures in areas ranging from semiconductors and space and defence manufacturing to agri-tech and healthcare. The fund will be administered in partnership with leading venture capitalists and family offices that attended the summit, and will be supported by ten industry-linked chairs in state universities to bolster research and skills development.
Complementing the fund, a network of 100 senior IIT alumni will serve as mentors to startups and aspiring entrepreneurs across Andhra Pradesh. This mentorship framework is designed to translate innovative ideas into market-ready solutions, create jobs and stimulate export-focused manufacturing, especially in the quantum computing domain.
Sectoral clusters, quantum ambition and AI talent goals
Naidu outlined the development of 23 sectoral clusters covering electronics, defence, aerospace, quantum technology, AI, semiconductors, horticulture, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, automotive, solar and renewable energy. The state will pursue both vertical and horizontal integration, linking suppliers, manufacturers and research institutions within each cluster to form self-sustaining ecosystems.
On the quantum front, the government announced that a joint IBM-TCS-L&T 156-qubit system will soon become operational in Amaravati, and that mini-quantum test labs, including the Q-Shiva systems, are already being deployed. The aim is to eventually manufacture and export quantum-computing hardware, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a hub for high-end technology production.
In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national goal of creating one crore AI professionals, Andhra Pradesh has set a target of contributing 5 million AI-skilled workers. The Pan-IIT Council will feed recommendations into a forthcoming DeepTech Policy Package that covers AI, quantum, semiconductor, space, defence, healthcare, agri-tech and water-related technologies.
