The Centre of Design Excellence (CoDE) at IIT Hyderabad inaugurated the CoDE Studio on January 8, 2026, marking a significant step towards strengthening design-led innovation for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups. The state-of-the-art design facility was officially opened by Shri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, in the presence of Prof. B.S. Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, and Dr. Prasad S. Onkar, Principal Investigator of CoDE and Associate Professor in the Department of Design.
The facility has been established with funding support from the Ministry of MSME, Government of India and the Government of Telangana under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme. The CoDE Studio will serve as both the operational hub of the Centre of Design Excellence and a comprehensive training and skill development center. The initiative aims to cater to a diverse range of beneficiaries including MSMEs, startups, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and students with entrepreneurial aspirations.
The newly inaugurated studio will conduct skill development workshops across various design-related domains and undertake craft documentation initiatives. The center plans to organize hackathons, conferences, and awareness programmes to promote design thinking and innovation. Additionally, CoDE will offer incubation and mentorship support to emerging entrepreneurs, along with facilitation services for business registration and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) filing.
The establishment of the CoDE Studio represents a collaborative effort between IIT Hyderabad and the Government of Telangana to promote design-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable industrial development. The initiative is expected to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs and startups by embedding design thinking into their products, processes, and business models. This comprehensive approach aims to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and foster a culture of innovation in the region.
IIT Hyderabad, established in 2008, has achieved remarkable progress in academics, research, and technology development over its 17-year journey. In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF-2025), the institute is ranked 7th among engineering institutes and 6th in innovation. The institution is also ranked 664th in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 270th in Asian University Rankings 2026, placing it among the top 10% of global institutions in citations per faculty.
The institute currently has over 340 full-time faculty members, 360 non-teaching staff, and more than 5,700 students, with postgraduate and PhD students accounting for approximately 60% of the student body. IIT Hyderabad has secured Rs. 1,650+ crore through over 5,260 R&D projects, with Rs. 335+ crore in funding received during 2024-25 alone. The institution has generated 12,890+ publications, filed 710+ patents, and supported approximately 335+ startups that have created over 1,100 jobs and generated revenue of Rs. 1,500+ crore.
