IIT Madras is India’s most prestigious higher educational institution in the country, having been ranked as #1 in the NIRF Rankings by the Ministry of Education, Government of India for the past 6 consecutive years. IIT Madras, with its numerous innovations and initiatives, exemplifies India’s dedication to fostering technological advancements.

Shaastra, the largest student-run technical festival in the country, features an array of events, workshops, lectures, and competitions that draw participants from across the country. The festival also prides itself in being ISO 9001:2015 certified, a testament that proves its commitment to quality and excellence.

This year, as a part of Shaastra 2025, from January 4 to 6, IIT Madras will host the Future Cities Summit. As India surges forward as one of the fastest-growing and rapidly urbanizing nations, the challenges of creating sustainable, livable cities for the future take center stage. The conference will precisely address these pressing issues. We are proud to have L&T as our title sponsor and Urban Design Lab (UDL) as our outreach partner.

This three-day, closed-door conference promises a convergence of thought leaders, policymakers, researchers, and industry experts from around the globe. With a focus on crafting cities capable of sustaining modern life while minimizing environmental impact, the Summit will feature impactful discussions, interactive workshops, and opportunities for collaborative problem-solving.

Shaastra 2025: Future Cities Summit at IIT Madras 1

The event will be inaugurated by Ms. D Thara (IAS), Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India.

 

Attendees can look forward to an impressive lineup of distinguished speakers, including Mr. Kok Chin Tay, Chairman of the Smart Cities Network; Mr. Ian Chew, Founder of Greenie Web; Ms. Aswathy Dilip, South Asia Director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy; and Mr. Shravan Bendapudi, Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Mumbai office. The conference will also feature an engaging fireside chat with Mr. Steven Metzler, Director, Water Resources, San Antonio River Authority and Ms. Julia McCarthy, Deputy Director, Mitigation Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Shaastra 2025: Future Cities Summit at IIT Madras 3

In addition to thought-provoking lectures and panel discussions, the Summit will offer exclusive certifiable workshops in the domains of AI and Urban Design, creative ideation sessions, and guided lab tours showcasing cutting-edge innovations at IIT Madras.

 

Adding to the excitement is the Future Cities Expo, a dynamic platform where companies from India and abroad will present breakthrough solutions across healthcare, energy, transport, mobility, and smart living. The expo will also feature marquee innovations from the IIT Madras Research Park, highlighting homegrown technologies with global relevance. The National Centre for Assistive Health Technologies will showcase their range of assistive technology vehicles, joined by innovative contributions from IIT Madras startups like R2D2 and Neomotion. Companies like Beebox Solutions will present custom AR/VR solutions.

 

Interested participants can register for the conference on Summit’s website summit.shaastra.org. Presently, group discounts are available on the website for interested participants.

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