IIT Madras Announces Arvind Raghunathan Centre for Theoretical Computer Science with Alumnus’ Generous Commitment

Chennai, 27 March 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras today announced a significant philanthropic commitment from its alumnus Arvind Raghunathan towards advancing foundational research in computer science. The contribution will support the establishment of the Arvind Raghunathan Centre for Theoretical Computer Science (ARtCS), a dedicated hub for deep, curiosity-driven inquiry into the mathematical underpinnings of computing.

Arvind Raghunathan, Founder, Roc360 and Founder/CEO, House IQ

The newly established centre aims to serve as an enduring intellectual home for long-term theoretical research, fostering innovation in areas that form the backbone of modern computational advancements. By focusing on foundational disciplines, ARtCS seeks to strengthen both institutional and national capabilities in theoretical computer science.

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Expressing his appreciation, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, said, “The generosity of Mr. Raghunathan and his continued commitment to the students of IIT Madras through ARtCS will advance innovative research in the field of computational science at an exciting time in this field.”

Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Raghunathan noted, “My transformative five years at IIT Madras fostered an unrelenting curiosity in me, and I hope that ARtCS will provide future generations with access to world-class professors and research in their intellectual pursuits in theoretical subjects.”

The centre will be formally inaugurated during a ceremony led by Prof. Kamakoti. ARtCS will be guided by a distinguished advisory board comprising globally renowned experts, including Prof. Shafi Goldwasser (MIT, Weizmann Institute, UC Berkeley), Dr. Prabhakar Raghavan (Google), Prof. Venkat Guruswamy (UC Berkeley), Mr. Ashwin Mahalingam (IIT Madras), Mr. R. Anand (Chartered Accountant), and Mr. Raghunathan, among others.

ARtCS is envisioned to play a pivotal role in elevating India’s presence in theoretical computer science—a field that underpins all computational innovation. The centre will nurture talent across academic levels, from undergraduate to postdoctoral researchers, while promoting cutting-edge research in areas such as cryptography, computational complexity, algorithms, graph theory, logic and databases, theoretical machine learning, quantum computing, and privacy in artificial intelligence.

After completing his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at IIT Madras, Mr. Raghunathan pursued a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. Following a brief academic stint, he built a successful career in equity proprietary trading with global institutions such as Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. He later transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding multiple ventures, including a large hedge fund, and more recently, companies in the fintech, investment management, and artificial intelligence sectors.

With the launch of ARtCS, IIT Madras continues to reinforce its commitment to advancing fundamental research and nurturing the next generation of thinkers who will shape the future of computing.

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