Archive · 13 Jan 2026
IIIT Hyderabad Builds Silicon Valley Model
IIIT Hyderabad is a special school for computer science and IT in India.
It was started in the 1990s by N Chandrababu Naidu, who wanted to create a place like Stanford University in Hyderabad.
Unlike other schools, IIIT Hyderabad is self-funded and focuses only on computer-related fields.
Students here start doing research from their second year, which helps them learn a lot.
The school is very good at what it does but is not as well-known as the IITs.
It has special projects like a language tech lab and a smart city living lab.
Even though it's not as famous as IITs, many students choose IIIT Hyderabad for its specialized programs.
IIIT Hyderabad was founded in the 1990s, inspired by Stanford University's model, to create a local tech industry in Hyderabad.
The institute is self-funded and self-governed, specializing in computer science, IT, and related fields.
Undergraduate students at IIIT Hyderabad engage in research from their second year, transforming them into creators.
Despite its academic rigor, IIIT Hyderabad scores low in national rankings due to the public's preference for IITs.
The institute boasts unique projects like the Bhashini project and a Smart City Living Lab, showcasing its advanced research capabilities.
- Who
- IIIT Hyderabad, Prof Sandeep Kumar Shukla, N Chandrababu Naidu
- What
- A self-funded and self-governed institute specializing in computer science and IT, inspired by Stanford University's model
- When
- Founded in the 1990s
- Where
- Hyderabad, India
- Why
- To create a local tech industry and innovation ecosystem similar to Silicon Valley
- Founded
- 1990s
- Founder
- N Chandrababu Naidu
- Specialization
- Computer Science, IT, and related fields
- Unique Feature
- Self-funded and self-governed
- Research Integration
- Undergraduate students engage in research from the second year
- NIRF Ranking (Engineering)
- 38th
- NIRF Perception Score
- 22.58 out of 100
- Notable Projects
- Bhashini project, Smart City Living Lab, Cybersecurity Centre