A key component of the Tata Center’s mission is training engineers, architects, and scientists to do work that has a tangible impact in the developing world. We approach problems with the goal of deploying appropriate, sustainable solutions that support communities, assist policymakers, and can survive in a competitive marketplace.

Many issues facing resource-constrained communities cannot be solved by technology alone. It is equally important to investigate and address the larger systemic problems that influence quality of life. Sound policy decisions, supported by thorough research, are vital in managing resources, allocating funds, and improving social conditions for marginalized groups.

Tata Center researchers are looking at the big picture in diverse fields such as clean water delivery, agricultural yields, public space, and seismically-resilient construction, and providing policy recommendations at the local, state, and national level.

Tata Center alumni have also formed new NGOs to carry on work that began at MIT, and have leveraged their research to expand the capacity of existing NGOs. We are committed to working collaboratively with communities, businesses, and the government to reach common goals.

Beginning with their Tata Fellowships, and in many cases continuing long after, our students take their research from the theoretical to the actual. They create products, influence policy, and launch businesses, all without losing sight of the main goal: Improving quality-of-life for billions of people in the developing world. The products, systems, and technologies that Tata Center researchers develop are designed to be scalable, high-performing, and optimized for the needs of emerging markets in India and elsewhere.

The Tata Center innovation method emphasizes an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging students to create solutions that can thrive in a marketplace. Tata Fellows do not just receive rigorous instruction in engineering and science; they are also steeped in the developing world context and MIT’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Now in its seventh year, the Tata Center has begun to produce student teams with a high-impact solution to a problem and the business acumen to compete in high-octane entrepreneurship competitions and ultimately launch their own company.