Chennai, Jan 11 : Prof. V. Kamakoti, who developed the indigenous

microprocessor ‘Shakti’ was appointed as the new Director of the Indian

Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M).

He will succeed Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, who is stepping down as the

Director after completing two stellar terms that took the Institute to great

heights.

During Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi’s tenure, IIT-Madras was ranked No.1

in ‘Overall’ Category for three consecutive years in India Rankings released

by National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education.

The Institute has been ranked No.1 in the ‘Engineering Institutions’ category

in the same Rankings for six consecutive years – from 2016 to 2021.

IIT Madras was adjudged as the ‘Top innovative Institution’ in the country

in Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) in 2019,

2020 and 2021 and was also selected as an ‘Institution of Eminence’ in

2019, a release from IIT-M said today.

An Alumnus of IIT Madras, Prof. Kamakoti, is currently the Associate Dean

for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (ICSR), IIT Madras. He

is also a member of the National Security Advisory Board, Government of

India.

Congratulating Prof Kamakoti on his appointment, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi

said, “With Prof. Kamakoti at the helm, IIT Madras is poised to scale new heights

in the coming years. He is an excellent teacher and researcher, and an able

administrator. He has played key roles in many national projects, bringing to

bear his deep expertise in computing and cybersecurity. The Institute and the

country will benefit tremendously from his services”.

Prof. Kamakoti, who is a faculty in the Department of Computer Science and

Engineering, led the Research team that designed and booted up India’s first

indigenously-developed Microprocessor ‘SHAKTI’ that can be used in mobile

computing devices and networking systems. It can reduce reliance on imported

microprocessors in communications and defence Sectors.

‘SHAKTI’ Microprocessor can be used by other sectors as well as it is on par

with its international peers.

Prof. Kamakoti was appointed by the Union Commerce Ministry in 2017 as the

Chairman of Task force on leveraging Artificial Intelligence for development

across various fields. He has been conferred with several awards.(UNI)