IIIT Hyderabad R&D Showcase Features AI Cybersecurity Research

The 25th edition of the annual R&D Showcase of the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad) commenced on Saturday at the institute’s Gachibowli campus. This two-day flagship event, which concludes on Sunday, has become one of the most anticipated research exhibitions, bringing together researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and students to explore advances in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, algorithms, robotics, and digital public infrastructure.

Overview of the R&D Showcase

The R&D Showcase serves as the institute’s major annual exhibition where faculty and students present their latest research projects, prototypes, and innovations to academia, industry, and the public. This year’s theme, “Trust in Technology – Security, Privacy and Transparency,” features over 400 research posters, demos, and prototypes from 29 research centers. Visitors have the opportunity to interact directly with researchers and witness how fundamental research is translated into real-world applications.

Keynote Address and Panel Discussions

The program included spotlight sessions by the Centre for Security, Theory and Algorithmic Research (CSTAR) and the Cyber Manthan Centre (CMC). An inaugural keynote was delivered by Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), followed by a panel discussion on “Building Trust in the Indian Cyberspace: Privacy, Security and Transparency in the Era of Emerging Technologies.”

Keynote by Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman

In his keynote address, Dr. Kalyanaraman highlighted that the ANRF serves as India’s primary organization for funding and supporting research, akin to the National Science Foundation in the United States. Established under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, it replaces the earlier Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

Dr. Kalyanaraman emphasized several funding opportunities for universities and colleges, noting that the ANRF aims to strengthen India’s research ecosystem by supporting scientific and technological research across institutions. The foundation promotes collaboration between academia, industry, and government, enhances research culture in universities—particularly state universities—and supports high-impact research in fields such as artificial intelligence, space, healthcare, climate science, and engineering.

Upcoming Mission-Mode Programs

Dr. Kalyanaraman also shared plans for several upcoming mission-mode programs under the MAHA (Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas) framework. These include:

• MAHA Drones
• MAHA G
• MAHA Water
• MAHA Leapfrog Demonstrators for Social Innovation

These initiatives aim to address national challenges through collaborative research involving universities, industry, and government laboratories, focusing on areas such as drone technologies, next-generation communication systems including 6G, sustainable water management, and socially impactful innovations in healthcare, energy, and education.

Insights from the Panel Discussion

The panel discussion on “Building Trust in the Indian Cyberspace” was moderated by Girish Varma of IIIT Hyderabad. The panelists included:

• P. R. Lakshmi Eswari, Centre Head, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Hyderabad
• Krishna Sastry Pendyala, Partner – Cybersecurity, Ernst & Young
• Deepak Kumar, Director, Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology
• M. V. Panduranga Rao, Centre for Cryptography and Cybersecurity, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

The discussion highlighted critical concerns around cybersecurity and digital trust. Dr. Lakshmi Eswari pointed out that security is often treated as a secondary priority during product design, rather than being integrated from the outset. Prof. Panduranga Rao emphasized the significant shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals and the gap between academic curricula and industry requirements.

Krishna Sastry Pendyala highlighted the scale of cybercrime in India, noting that financial losses from cyber threats run into tens of thousands of crores annually. Major breaches, such as the theft of hundreds of millions of medical records, raise serious concerns about data security and digital trust. The panel stressed the need for greater awareness, stronger cybersecurity frameworks, skilled manpower, and a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy.

Exhibits and Innovations

Alongside exhibits in AI, robotics, data science, and cybersecurity, the showcase hosted industry-research confluence sessions on themes such as Cybersecurity and Privacy in the AI Era and AI for Theory and Theory for AI. A startup showcase and an industry roundtable on Agentic AI were also featured.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is an autonomous self-driving wheelchair designed to enhance mobility for persons with disabilities. Equipped with 3D LiDAR for environmental perception and powered by Jetson Orin running ROS2, the wheelchair enables intelligent navigation with minimal user input. Advanced path planning and obstacle-avoidance systems allow for safe and efficient movement in diverse environments.

Visitors also saw innovative robotics projects such as flapping-wing robots and spin drones, alongside architectural models demonstrating traditional earthquake-resilient housing systems, including:

• Kath Kuni houses of Himachal Pradesh
• Adobe houses of Rajasthan
• Ikra houses of Assam

These models illustrate how traditional Indian architecture utilized local materials and ingenious construction techniques to build earthquake-resilient homes long before modern engineering technologies existed. For example, Kath Kuni houses use alternating layers of wood and stone to absorb seismic shocks, while Adobe structures rely on thick mud-brick walls that distribute stress.

Closing Events

Sunday’s program will feature “Excitement of Research” (ExOR), introducing visiting undergraduate students to research pathways, and a Faculty Futures Roundtable on research funding. The event will conclude with a patent felicitation ceremony at Research Street, recognizing IIIT Hyderabad researchers for their innovation and intellectual property contributions. The institute has received over 70 patents to date.

Conclusion

Now in its 25th year, the R&D Showcase has evolved into one of the institute’s flagship platforms for presenting cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government.

Note: The information presented in this article is based on the latest available data as of March 2026.</p