Andhra Pradesh will first take shape in Tirupati

Vijayawada: With the aim of making Andhra Pradesh a future-ready knowledge and innovation hub, the state government will establish a large-scale, funded research center in Tirupati.

The facility will be launched under the banner of AP FIRST (Andhra Pradesh Futuristic Innovation and Research in Science and Technology).

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday gave the green light to this major initiative, emphasizing that cutting-edge research and skill development will be a key part of the state’s growth strategy. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the CM’s camp office in Undavalli, attended by advisors from the aerospace and defense sectors, as well as IT and digital transformation experts. Senior officials from the AP Drone Corporation were also present.

Naidu said the state government is focused on building the future of youth and is fully prepared to provide all necessary support to help them acquire skills relevant to emerging global opportunities. Also Read – AP sets major milestone in global clean environment The AP FIRST Research Center will be established in Tirupati, leveraging the combined strengths of two premier national institutions – IIT Tirupati and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati.

The Chief Minister emphasized that this IIT-IISER combination should be developed into a highly prestigious and nationally recognized ecosystem for innovation and advanced research. He said that AP is witnessing growing investor interest in several emerging sectors. Naidu identified aerospace, defense, space technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductor devices and sensors, quantum technology, healthcare, biotechnology, green energy, and rural technologies as key focus areas for the future.

He said that the state is formulating forward-thinking policies and actively encouraging investment in these sectors. AP FIRST should serve as a major platform to promote startups, support new inventions, and ensure the availability of highly skilled youth for upcoming industries. Naidu emphasized that AP FIRST should closely network with universities, large domestic and global companies, and renowned innovation hubs, including the Ratan Tata Innovation Ecosystem. He said the center should continuously track emerging technologies worldwide, coordinate with industries to identify skill needs, and work with educational institutions to update curriculum accordingly.

The CM also called for strengthening the Drone Corporation and expanding the use of drones in agriculture, disaster management, and medical emergencies. He directed officials to study global best practices, explore concepts like drone taxis and drone ambulances, and examine the feasibility of drone traffic management systems, such as air traffic control.

He said that by the next International Drone Day, the state should clearly demonstrate how drone-based services can benefit citizens.

The meeting was attended by Aerospace and Defence Advisor Satish Reddy, IT and Digital Transformation Advisor Amit Duggar, IIT Tirupati Director K.N. Satyanarayana, Professor Senthil Kumar, DMTI Director Colonel P.S. Reddy and senior officials from various departments.