The 25th IIIT Hyderabad R&D Showcase opened in Hyderabad on March 15, 2026, featuring a two-day exhibition that brings researchers, industry, policymakers, and students together to explore advances in AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and digital public infrastructure.

In its 25th year, the event draws participation from 300+ industries and students from multiple colleges, reinforcing its role as a flagship platform for research collaboration.

The 25th edition reinforces IIIT Hyderabad’s position as a hub for academia–industry–government collaboration in technology research and innovation.

Upcoming MAHA mission-mode programmes were outlined, including MAHA Drones, MAHA G, MAHA Water, and MAHA Leapfrog Demonstrators for Social Innovation, targeting high-impact areas like AI, 6G, water management, and healthcare.

Key spotlight sessions featured CSTAR and the Cyber Manthan Centre, an inaugural keynote by Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of ANRF, and a panel on Building Trust in Indian Cyberspace focusing on privacy, security, and transparency with emerging technologies.

IIIT Hyderabad Director Prof. Sandeep K. Shukla emphasized translating research into societal impact and the ethics of technology, urging that technology be controlled by humans rather than controlling us.

Exhibit highlights included an autonomous self-driving wheelchair with 3D LiDAR and ROS2, as well as robotics demos like flapping-wing robots, spin drones, and earthquake-resilient traditional Kath Kuni, Adobe, and Ikra houses.

ANRF was announced as India’s primary research funding body under the 2023 ANRF Act, with plans to support national research through the MAHA framework (Drones, G, Water, Leapfrog Demonstrators) and foster academia–industry–government collaboration.

Panel discussions addressed cybersecurity challenges, noting a shortage of skilled professionals, gaps between curricula and industry needs, and the scale of cybercrime, calling for awareness, stronger frameworks, and a national cybersecurity strategy.

Sunday features ExOR for visiting undergraduates, a Faculty Futures Roundtable on funding, and a patent felicitation ceremony, highlighting IIIT Hyderabad’s patent portfolio of 70+ filings.

The event theme is Trust in Technology—Security, Privacy and Transparency, with over 400 posters, demos, and prototypes from 29 research centres enabling direct interaction among researchers, industry, policymakers, and the public.