Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx”), the world’s largest express transportation company, and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have inaugurated the FedEx SMART Centre (Supply Chain Modelling, Algorithms, Research and Technology Centre) in the campus.

A first-of-its-kind innovation hub, it will be dedicated to building sustainable, technology-driven logistics solutions.

Backed by a five-year USD 5 million grant from FedEx, the Centre will combine cutting-edge research, advanced digital tools, and industry expertise to reimagine supply chains for agility, resilience, and environmental responsibility.

The inauguration was led recently by Kami Viswanathan, President, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa (MEISA), FedEx, along with Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, vice president, Marketing, Customer Experience, and Air Network, MEISA, FedEx, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras and Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras.

“This Center is more than just a hub for research. It’s a space where technology and talent come together with a shared purpose to shape what’s next,” said Kami Viswanathan. “By combining deep academic insight and global industry expertise, we can build smarter, more sustainable supply chains that create meaningful impact far all stakeholders,” Ms. Kami Viswanathan added.

Adding to this, Nitin Navneet Tatiwala said, “Logistics today
is about smart, resilient systems that adapt in real time and tread lighter on the planet. At the FedEx SMART Centre, we’re co-developing AI-powered, data-driven solutions to help businesses compete, scale, and lead in a world that demands both agility and environmental responsibility.”

Positioned as a hub for national engagement and research excellence, the SMART Centre is driving Pan-India impact:

O Talent Outreach: Partnering with Shaastra to host three national competitions, attracting 3,000+ students and involving six FedEx subject matter experts as judges.

O Summer Internships and Research: From 1,500+ applications, 40 top students worked on 25+ industry-academic projects under four focus areas, guided by 20 IIT Madras faculty and a 50-member research team.

O Knowledge Sharing: Hosting 35+ expert sessions for academia and industry, and supporting 17 new faculty proposals on AI, sustainability, and warehouse automation.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Sound and efficient Logistics define the economy of a Nation, the joint efforts taken by IIT Madras and FedEx will not only solve complex problems in logistics and supply chain but also address important human resources related issues and related infrastructure.”

The Centre will drive interdisciplinary projects spanning carbon-neutral operations, autonomous delivery systems, EV infrastructure, predictive analytics, and AI-driven worker safety, while also building platforms for capacity development and knowledge sharing.

Thanking FedEx for their support, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, added, “Our corporate allies have been instrumental in fostering fruitful industry-academia collaborations that drive social impact. In this spirit, we are grateful to FedEx for their generous support in establishing the FedEx SMART Centre at IIT Madras. This collaboration brings together industry expertise and academic innovation to create real-world solutions for sustainable logistics. By fostering cutting-edge research, talent development, and global associations, the Centre is poised to make a transformative impact on the logistics ecosystem.”

Highlighting the need for research in logistics, Project Principal Investigator Prof Arshinder Kaur, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras, said, “We are aspiring to transform the future of the supply chain and logistics industry by adopting emerging technologies such as Electrical vehicles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and digital frameworks enhancing social and environmental sustainability and supply chain visibility. Fully aware of the complexities and uncertainties of the global environment, we are driven by the vision of positioning India as a powerful global logistics hub.”

With contribution from FedEx and IIT Madras providing research leadership, the SMART Centre aims to become a launchpad for logistics innovation — where ideas move from whiteboards to working prototypes, and from prototypes to national and global impact. Together, they are shaping a future where India leads in building smarter, sustainable, and more connected supply chains.


ABOUT FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

Federal Express Corporation is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. Federal Express Corporation uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments by a definite time and date.

MEDIA CONTACT FOR FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

Tasneem Poonawala

+91 9892542705

tpoonawala@fedex.com