Microprocessor ‘Shakti’ Developer Kamakoti Is New IIT-M Director

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.