AMCHAM’s Tamil Nadu Chapter organized a breakfast meeting on ‘IITM Research Foundation in the U.S. and AI Advancement’ on August 23rd in Chennai. Guest speaker Professor Raghu, Dean Global Engagement, IITM provided insights into IITM’s upcoming Research Park to be launched in the U.S., focusing on AI advancements. He highlighted the significant milestones achieved by IITM and discussed how the institution bridges the gap between academia and industry. He emphasized the importance of research in academic development and shared stories of IITM alumni who have become leading CEOs, MDs, and Presidents globally. Additionally, he spoke about the role of the IITM Research Park in supporting start-ups and the potential for setting up similar research facilities in the U.S. and other countries. Guest speaker Mr. Vijayshankar Pandey, Regional Director, BOAT elaborated on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme in India is a one year program equipping technically qualified youth with practical knowledge and skills required in their field of work. The apprentices are imparted training by organizations at their place of work. He mentioned that the government offers a stipend of Rs. 9,000 for engineering students and Rs. 8,000 for arts and science students during their one-year apprenticeship tenure. He also discussed how companies can claim CSR funds if they opt not to reimburse stipends directly. Additionally, he explained how the government supports industries by fulfilling their manpower requirements at no cost, ensuring a robust and skilled workforce across India.