The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) are expanding their collaboration under the CAMS IIT Madras FinTech Innovation Lab (CIFIL) to accelerate innovation in financial technology, startup development, industry-led research and professional education.
The renewed partnership is aimed at strengthening India’s rapidly evolving digital financial ecosystem by bringing together academic research, industry expertise and entrepreneurial talent.
CIFIL To Focus On Emerging FinTech Technologies
Established in 2022 as part of CAMS’ CSR initiatives, CIFIL combines CAMS’ expertise in financial technology and financial services with IIT Madras’ academic and research capabilities. The lab was set up to encourage innovation across the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector.
Under the next phase of the collaboration, CIFIL will focus on emerging areas including Artificial Intelligence in financial services, digital payments, blockchain and tokenisation, cybersecurity, Regulatory Technology (RegTech), WealthTech, InsurTech, digital lending, data analytics and financial inclusion.
The lab will also expand its research portfolio, support intellectual property creation and facilitate technology transfer and commercialisation of research-driven solutions.
A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CAMS and IIT Madras was signed on August 12, 2026, at the IIT Madras campus in the presence of leadership teams from both organisations.
Anuj Kumar, Managing Director, CAMS, said the partnership is intended to create an intersection between industry experience and academic exploration, enabling researchers, students and innovators to experiment with emerging technologies and develop solutions for the financial services ecosystem.
Greater Support For FinTech Startups And Entrepreneurs
A key priority of the expanded CIFIL initiative will be supporting fintech startups and entrepreneurs. The lab will provide startups with access to faculty and technical expertise, mentoring, industry networks, validation support, research collaborations, and innovation challenges.
CIFIL will also seek to connect promising startups with relevant industry opportunities, helping entrepreneurs develop and validate solutions addressing real-world challenges in financial services.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said the partnership could help combine the institute’s research capabilities with CAMS’ industry expertise to accelerate the development of fintech solutions for India’s financial ecosystem.
The initiative will additionally provide IIT Madras students with opportunities to work closely with the industry through research projects, internships, hackathons, expert interactions and startup mentoring. These programmes are expected to provide practical exposure to financial technology challenges while strengthening research, innovation and entrepreneurial skills.
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Professional Education To Build FinTech Talent
CIFIL is also expanding its talent development programmes through professional education initiatives. These include the Professional Certificate Programme in FinTech and the Certificate Programme in Personal Financial Planning, aimed at working professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and aspiring fintech leaders.
The programmes will cover emerging technologies, industry use cases and evolving financial services models. Participants who complete the Professional Certificate Programme in FinTech and meet the required academic criteria will receive a Professional Certificate from CODE, IIT Madras, through CIFIL.
The lab will also provide industry partners with a platform to collaborate with IIT Madras faculty and researchers on business and technology challenges. This will include evaluating emerging technologies, developing proofs of concept, and undertaking applied research.
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Building A Wider FinTech Innovation Ecosystem
Prof. M. Thenmozhi, Head of the CAMS IITM FinTech Innovation Lab and Professor at the Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras, said CIFIL aims to evolve into a global centre for fintech innovation and research while developing solutions for unresolved challenges across banking, financial markets and financial services.
Since its establishment, CIFIL has supported fintech research projects, conducted national hackathons with industry participation, mentored startups through incubation and pre-incubation initiatives, and developed executive education programmes.
The lab has also established collaborations with banks, regulators and other industry stakeholders. Its work has contributed to innovation across areas such as digital payments, AI, blockchain, cybersecurity and wealth management.
With the expanded partnership, IIT Madras and CAMS are looking to deepen the connection between academia, industry, startups and other stakeholders, with a focus on developing technology-driven solutions for India’s evolving financial ecosystem.
