Kanpur, February 03, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) had the honour of hosting Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, who visited the campus today to engage with the institute’s thriving ecosystem of deep-tech innovation, research, and defence-related technology development.

Admiral Tripathi was welcomed to the institute by Prof. Braj Bhushan, Deputy Director IIT Kanpur; Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean, Research & Development; Air Marshal Philip Thomas; and Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor In-Charge (Incubation & Innovation), Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC).

Welcoming the Chief of the Naval Staff, Prof. Braj Bhushan, Deputy Director, IIT Kanpur, said: “It is a privilege for IIT Kanpur to host Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and showcase the institute’s growing contributions to deep-tech innovation and defence-oriented research. His visit reaffirms the importance of strong collaboration between academia, startups, and the armed forces in building indigenous, mission-critical technologies. We remain committed to advancing research, innovation, and entrepreneurship that strengthen India’s strategic and technological self-reliance.”

Admiral Tripathi then visited the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), where he was joined by Mr. Anurag Singh, Chief Investment Officer, SIIC, and Mr. Piyush Mishra, Chief Operating Officer & CFO, SIIC, alongside the SIIC leadership team. Prof. Deepu Philip presented a comprehensive overview of IIT Kanpur’s incubation, innovation, and startup acceleration framework.

Prof. Deepu Philip added: “At SIIC, our mission is to transform bold ideas into deployable technologies that strengthen India’s strategic readiness. Admiral Tripathi’s interaction with our innovators is an invaluable encouragement for startups developing solutions that can directly serve the nation’s defence ecosystem.”

As part of the visit, SIIC curated a showcase featuring 15 high-impact deep-tech startups operating in defence and allied sectors, including autonomous systems, cybersecurity, materials engineering, drones, and advanced manufacturing.

Admiral Tripathi interacted closely with all participating startups, gaining insights into their cutting-edge innovations. He expressed appreciation for the quality and depth of technological development emerging from IIT Kanpur’s incubation ecosystem.

Encouraging the innovators, Admiral Tripathi said, “The spirit of innovation demonstrated here is truly inspiring. Technologies born in institutions like IIT Kanpur are vital for shaping a secure and self-reliant future for our nation. I urge these startups to continue pushing boundaries and contribute meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, where India stands at the forefront of global technological leadership.”

Following the startup showcase, the Chief of the Naval Staff proceeded to visit the C3i Hub, IIT Kanpur’s specialised cybersecurity research centre, where he reviewed ongoing initiatives in critical infrastructure and cyber defence. He also visited the Technopark@IITK, which supports industry–academia collaboration and technology commercialization.

The visit underscored IIT Kanpur’s expanding role in national defence innovation and highlighted opportunities for deeper collaboration with the Indian Navy.

Admiral Tripathi departed the campus after his engagements, leaving behind encouragement and enthusiasm among innovators, researchers, and young entrepreneurs.

About SIIC IIT Kanpur

The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, is one of India’s oldest and most active technology business incubators, with over 25 years of experience in nurturing research-led and technology-driven entrepreneurship. SIIC has incubated 500+ startups, including 100+ women-led ventures, across seven key domains—MedTech, CleanTech/SocialTech/MSME, Defence, AI/ML, IoT, Cybersecurity, and FinTech.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialized schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in.