I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics

What I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics does

I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC) is a Section-8 non-profit company and the designated Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Delhi, established in June 2020 under the Department of Science & Technology's National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The organization operates as an integrated cobotics (collaborative robotics) ecosystem spanning four verticals — Medical & Healthcare, Agriculture, Defence, and Industry X.0 — and delivers a full innovation cycle from conceptualization through commercialization via startup incubation, collaborative R&D, education and upskilling, and partnership programs. Its core infrastructure comprises five facilities: the Drone Technology Park at IIT Delhi Sonipat, the Medical Cobotics Centre, 10 Co-Innovation Centres at partner institutions, the Research & Innovation Park at IIT Delhi, and the Vishwakarma Bhawan Incubation Centre. Notable in-house technologies include a Tele-Robotic Ultrasonography system that demonstrated the world's longest-distance telerobotic ultrasound between AIIMS Delhi and Antarctica's Maitri Research Station, plus tele-operated surgical platforms, UAV applications, exoskeletons, and collaborative mobile robots.

The business model is multi-stream but anchored in government programmatic funding. The primary revenue stream is a five-year DST grant under the NM-ICPS mission, after which IHFC is mandated to become self-sustainable. Secondary streams include CSR funding (notably ₹1.40 crore from REC Limited for Haryana school labs), training and certificate program fees (Generative AI, Machine Learning, Data Analytics) collected via an HDFC QR payment portal, workshop and hackathon fees, and partnership-driven R&D collaborations. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: IHFC runs hackathons such as AI VidyaSetu 1.0, the Inter-School Robotics Championship with CISCE, the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge under ITU, and a 5th anniversary exhibition showcasing 25 technologies. Customer and partner segments are diverse — government hospitals (AIIMS, Rajiv Gandhi Superspeciality Hospital), national curriculum bodies (CISCE, DBSE, KVS), defense R&D counterparties, industrial automation partners (eClerx, RealSim, Medekom), regional development agencies (NECTAR), and 52 incubated deep-tech startups — but revenue concentration sits with a single government principal.

Name

I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics

Legal name

I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics

Website

https://ihfc.co.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC) is a non-profit Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Delhi, established in 2020 under the DST's NM-ICPS mission to drive collaborative robotics R&D, startup incubation, and education across Medical, Agriculture, Defence, and Industry X.0 verticals in India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Robotics Research and Technology Innovation Hub

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), Machinery Manufacturing (333)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Collaborative Robots (Cobots) (IMAHAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Robotics & Cobots (IMAIAMAB), Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK), Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC), Mechatronics Systems & Integration (EDAOAHAB)

Keywords

• Collaborative robotics research
• Startup incubation services
• Technology innovation hub
• Robotics education training
• Tele-robotic medical systems

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from Department of Science & Technology under NM-ICPS mission. IHFC was set up in June 2020 under this mission and receives support for five years, after which it aims to become self-sustainable through revenue generation.
2. Education & Training Programs: Revenue from Professional Certificate Programs in Generative AI, Machine Learning & Intelligent Automation, Data Analytics, and other technical training programs. Programs include AI VidyaSetu hackathons and workshop fees.
3. Training & Workshop Payments: Fees collected for training and workshop programs through payment portal with HDFC QR code integration.
4. CSR Project Funding: Corporate Social Responsibility funding from companies like REC Limited (₹1.40 crore for Green Innovator Immersive Learning Labs in Haryana schools).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC) is a non-profit Technology Innovation Hub that operates innovation facilities (Drone Technology Park, Medical Cobotics Centre, Co-Innovation Centres, Research & Innovation Park, Vishwakarma Bhawan Incubation Centre) and delivers startup incubation, collaborative R&D, and professional education programs focused on collaborative robotics across Medical, Agriculture, Defence, and Industry X.0 sectors. The hub develops and demonstrates indigenous cobotic technologies including tele-robotic ultrasound, surgical robots, UAVs, exoskeletons, and collaborative industrial robots, while training over 1,04,822 people and incubating 52+ deep-tech startups.

Product overview

I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC) operates as a technology innovation hub and ecosystem rather than a single product company. It functions as a platform of interconnected facilities, programs, and services. The core infrastructure includes five major facilities: Drone Technology Park (DTP) for UAV research and training, Medical Cobotics Centre (MCC) for healthcare robotics, 10 Co-Innovation Centres (CiC) for deep-tech entrepreneurship, Research & Innovation Park (R&I) for startups, and Vishwakarma Bhawan Incubation Centre (VBIC) for incubation. IHFC offers educational programs including Professional Certificate Programs in Generative AI and Data Analytics, and competitive platforms like Robotics for Good Youth Challenge and AI VidyaSetu hackathons. The hub focuses on four key sectors: Medical (tele-robotic surgery, healthcare AI), Agriculture (UAV applications, robotic manipulators), Defence (robotic teammates, exoskeletons), and Industry X.0 (collaborative robots, industrial automation), providing a complete innovation cycle from conceptualization to commercialization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drone Technology Park (DTP) A dedicated facility for drone testing, research, and training at IIT Delhi Sonipat campus, hosting startups and IHFC-incubated ventures in the UAV/drone domain. Aimed at deep-tech startups, researchers, and drone pilot trainees.
• Medical Cobotics Centre (MCC) A Centre of Excellence for training and R&D in healthcare technologies, nurturing startups driving medical innovation including tele-robotic surgical systems. Aimed at healthcare startups and medical robotics researchers.
• Co-Innovation Centres (CiC) A network of 10 Co-Innovation Centres promoting entrepreneurship and startups in Deep Tech Domains including Robotics, AI, Machine Learning, and IoT across partner institutions.
• Research & Innovation Park (R&I) A hub for startups and tech innovation at IIT Delhi, home to IHFC's office and many of its incubated teams.
• Vishwakarma Bhawan Incubation Centre (VBIC) A Centre of Excellence with space for startups, also housing the IHFC Education & Training team for conducting training programs.
• Professional Certificate Program in Generative AI, Machine Learning & Intelligent Automation Professional certification program focused on Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Intelligent Automation for career advancement of working professionals and students.
• Professional Certificate Program in Data Analytics, Generative AI & Adaptive Systems Professional certification program covering Data Analytics, Generative AI, and Adaptive Systems for skill development of working professionals and students.
• Startup Incubation Services Incubation, acceleration, and mentorship services for deep-tech startups in robotics, AI, and cobotics domains, including funding access, infrastructure, and market connections.
• Research & Development Services Collaborative R&D services bringing together academia, government, and industry for technology development in Medical, Agriculture, Defence, and Industry X.0 sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 104,822+ people empowered through training and education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, strategic and regional.

• AIIMS New DelhiflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Joint development of indigenously developed tele-robotic ultrasound system. Successfully demonstrated longest-distance telerobotic ultrasound from AIIMS Delhi to Maitri Research Station in Antarctica (12,000 km). Jointly developed with Rajiv Gandhi Superspeciality Hospital and IIT Delhi through IHFC.
• Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2022Partnership to develop curriculum under SoSe program for 21st century skills including Robotics, Automation, and Machine Learning for Delhi government children.
• CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2022MoU to design curriculum for Robotics, AI, ML and Data Science for CISCE affiliated schools. IHFC to help curate syllabus reinforcing 21st century skills and execute aspects of NEP 2020 across 2700+ schools.
• RealSimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for medical simulators. IHFC and RealSim signed MoU to co-develop medical products in healthcare simulation and other medical devices for clinical segments.
• eClerx Services Ltd.strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for AI, Machine Learning & RPA solutions. Partnership to develop and implement AI-driven automation solutions.
• MedekomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for India's First Medical Cobotics Centre. Partnership to establish centre of excellence for medical robotics and healthcare innovation.
• Aviate AcademystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrone pilot training institution backed by IHFC. Strategic partnership to impart professional drone pilot training meeting DGCA regulations at IIT Delhi Sonipat campus.
• NECTAR (North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for skill development and technology nurture in North Eastern Region. Partnership to empower regional entrepreneurs through entrepreneurship development programs and market expansion.
• IIEST ShibpurregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Innovation Centre launched to promote student entrepreneurship and startups in deep tech including robotics, AI, and machine learning.
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Innovation Centre partnership for deep tech learning and robotics practice acceleration.
• 10 Institutions (Co-Innovation Centres)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 10 institutions to launch Co-Innovation Centres (CiC) in deep tech domains including Robotics, AI, Machine Learning, and IoT.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Universal Robots: Global market leader in collaborative robots (cobots) with commercial product deployments across manufacturing worldwide. Comparable as a cobotics pure-play whose technology focus, customer base, and product roadmap directly overlap IHFC's cobotics mandate, though operating as a commercial product company rather than a non-profit hub.
• ARM Institute (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing): USA-based Manufacturing USA institute with a similar mission of accelerating robotic innovation, workforce development, and industry-academia collaboration for manufacturing. Comparable in its hub-and-ecosystem role but operates at much larger scale and scope than IHFC.

Direct peers

• IIIT Hyderabad Centre for Robotics (RRC): Academic research center at IIIT Hyderabad specializing in robotics, computer vision, and machine learning with active startup spinouts. Comparable as a deep-tech robotics research org in India pursuing both academic research and commercialization pathways.
• ARTPARK (AI & Robotics Technology Park, IISc Bengaluru): Sister Technology Innovation Hub under the same DST NM-ICPS mission, hosted at IISc Bengaluru with overlapping mandates in AI, robotics, and autonomous systems R&D plus startup incubation. Directly comparable institutional model, funding structure, and government mandate.
• C-MInDS (Centre for Machine Intelligence & Data Science, IIT Madras): Another DST NM-ICPS Technology Innovation Hub at a premier Indian technical university (IIT Madras), focused on AI and autonomous systems. Direct comparable in mandate, funding model, and hub-at-IIT architecture to IHFC.

Emerging players

• GreyOrange: Indian-founded global robotics and warehouse automation company with AI-driven mobile robots and fulfillment solutions. Comparable as a deep-tech Indian robotics success story operating in adjacent automation/robotics categories to IHFC's Industry X.0 and collaborative robotics mandate.
• Addverb Technologies: Indian warehouse and industrial robotics company (now Reliance-backed) building mobile robots, cobots, and automation solutions for factories and warehouses. Comparable in cobotics and Industry X.0 focus, with similar target customer segments (manufacturing, logistics) and Indian base, though structured as a high-growth commercial venture rather than non-profit.
• CynLr: Indian deep-tech startup building vision-guided robotic manipulation systems for industrial pick-and-place applications. Comparable as an Indian cobotics/robotics venture that emerged from a similar Bangalore/IISc research ecosystem with ambitions to serve global manufacturers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ihfc_tih
• Facebookfacebook.com/ihfc.iitdelhi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ihfc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics