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CHENNAI, India, Feb. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- India's leading institution for higher education, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), is expanding its global footprint through a new established entity IIT Madras Global Research Foundation (IITM Global).
ITM Global's charter pivots on four key pillars of Growth stage deep-tech startups, Research & Consultancy, IPs & Transfer of Technology and High Academic & Skilling programs.
IITM Global is a plug-and-play platform that has been newly launched by Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs, Government of India. The initiative supports IIT Madras's vision to become the world's first multinational university by positioning it as a globally networked hub for education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Addressing the IITM Global launch event at IIT Madras Campus on 2nd Jan 2026 Dr. S. Jaishankar said, "An IIT Madras Campus in Tanzania is a way by which Indian Foreign Policy has leveraged the capabilities of an Institution here to make a huge impact. In ten years from now, think how many Students of Africa would have passed through its portals. Look at the impact that we would have on the minds of people who, in their own countries, would be economic and technology leaders. We are a human resource power and we should play to our strengths. We now have the capability to start doing so. When institutions of excellence in the country start going abroad, the business of foreign policy gains a huge addition to our arsenal. This is something very transformational."
As part of its South Asia expansion, IITM Global has partnered with GATES to build a long-term, market / customer connected innovation ecosystem focused on growth stage startups (Scaleups). The collaboration will serve as a strategic gateway for IITM Global deepen engagement with the tech ecosystem that serves ASEAN countries hence enabling startups to gain access to the growth markets of the region.
This strategic partnership will support scaling of startups incubated by IIT Madras into ASEAN. An additional focus of the collaboration will be the commercialisation of intellectual property developed at IIT Madras.
The partnership will facilitate structured licensing frameworks and industry engagement to translate cutting-edge research into deployable technologies with global relevance. By connecting academic research, startups and industry partners, IITM Global and GATES aim to create clear pathways from laboratory innovation to market impact.
Through its partnership with GATES IITM Global, aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration, enable startup internationalisation and create new avenues for globally impactful research, technology commercialisation across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Widely recognised as India's top-ranked institution for higher education, IIT Madras is ranked #1 Overall and #1 Engineering Institute in India's National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), #180 in the QS World University Rankings and #56 in the QS Asian University Rankings. The institute hosts a comprehensive research ecosystem.
CHENNAI, India, Feb. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- India's leading institution for higher education, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), is expanding its global footprint through a new established entity IIT Madras Global Research Foundation (IITM Global).
ITM Global's charter pivots on four key pillars of Growth stage deep-tech startups, Research & Consultancy, IPs & Transfer of Technology and High Academic & Skilling programs.
IITM Global is a plug-and-play platform that has been newly launched by Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs, Government of India. The initiative supports IIT Madras's vision to become the world's first multinational university by positioning it as a globally networked hub for education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Addressing the IITM Global launch event at IIT Madras Campus on 2nd Jan 2026 Dr. S. Jaishankar said, "An IIT Madras Campus in Tanzania is a way by which Indian Foreign Policy has leveraged the capabilities of an Institution here to make a huge impact. In ten years from now, think how many Students of Africa would have passed through its portals. Look at the impact that we would have on the minds of people who, in their own countries, would be economic and technology leaders. We are a human resource power and we should play to our strengths. We now have the capability to start doing so. When institutions of excellence in the country start going abroad, the business of foreign policy gains a huge addition to our arsenal. This is something very transformational."
As part of its South Asia expansion, IITM Global has partnered with GATES to build a long-term, market / customer connected innovation ecosystem focused on growth stage startups (Scaleups). The collaboration will serve as a strategic gateway for IITM Global deepen engagement with the tech ecosystem that serves ASEAN countries hence enabling startups to gain access to the growth markets of the region.
This strategic partnership will support scaling of startups incubated by IIT Madras into ASEAN. An additional focus of the collaboration will be the commercialisation of intellectual property developed at IIT Madras.
The partnership will facilitate structured licensing frameworks and industry engagement to translate cutting-edge research into deployable technologies with global relevance. By connecting academic research, startups and industry partners, IITM Global and GATES aim to create clear pathways from laboratory innovation to market impact.
Through its partnership with GATES IITM Global, aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration, enable startup internationalisation and create new avenues for globally impactful research, technology commercialisation across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Widely recognised as India's top-ranked institution for higher education, IIT Madras is ranked #1 Overall and #1 Engineering Institute in India's National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), #180 in the QS World University Rankings and #56 in the QS Asian University Rankings. The institute hosts a comprehensive research ecosystem.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
IIT Madras strengthens Southeast Asia presence through strategic partnership in Singapore
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Announced alongside M Series Smart Assist Module launch on Kickstarter
NEW YORK, April 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yarbo, a company focused on intelligent yard robotics, today announced the Yarbo Open Platform, a long-term initiative currently under development and planned for release in early 2027. Designed to expand Yarbo's modular yard robot system across both software and hardware, the platform is intended to support deeper customization, broader smart home connectivity, and new forms of user and developer-driven functionality over time. The announcement coincides with the launch of the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.
The Open Platform is not available today. Instead, it reflects Yarbo's roadmap for how its ecosystem may evolve over time, including a three-layer software architecture built around an Open API, SDK, and no-code Automation Editor, as well as a hardware expansion framework designed to support future user-built and developer-built modules.
A Structured Approach to Software Integration and Automation
The Yarbo Open Platform is structured to accommodate different levels of technical expertise, from everyday users to experienced developers. It is designed to provide multiple entry points into the Yarbo ecosystem, enabling both software-driven automation and hardware-level expansion.
On the software side, the platform consists of three layers:
- Yarbo Open API — intended to enable connectivity between Yarbo devices and external platforms, allowing them to participate in broader home automation scenarios.
- Yarbo SDK — a set of development tools, including code libraries and documentation, designed for developers building custom features or integrations.
- Yarbo Automation Editor — a visual, drag-and-drop interface within the Yarbo app that allows users to create automation workflows without writing code.
Together, these components are intended to make automation accessible to a wide range of users, while also supporting more advanced development use cases.
The platform is also designed to support compatibility with widely used smart home ecosystems, including Home Assistant, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, enabling users to incorporate Yarbo into existing connected home setups.
Extending Capability Through Hardware
In addition to software capabilities, the Open Platform introduces a hardware expansion approach designed to extend Yarbo's functionality beyond its existing modules.
At the center of this is CoreBridge, a standardized hardware interface currently in development that is intended to provide access to Yarbo's mechanical mounting points, power system, and data connections. It is designed to support third-party development and user-built extensions, allowing new types of functionality beyond pre-defined modules.
One example of this extensibility is an electromagnet-based module, which can be attached via CoreBridge to enable Yarbo to latch onto and move objects such as garbage bins. In a potential use scenario, this could enable automated movement of a bin to the curb on collection day and its return afterward.
This combination of software and hardware openness reflects an effort to expand the role of outdoor robotics beyond fixed-function devices.
Smart Assist Module Launch on Kickstarter
Alongside the Open Platform announcement, Yarbo is launching the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.
The module introduces two primary features designed to expand how users interact with their yard robot in everyday use:
- Follow Me Mode — enabling Yarbo to move alongside the user while carrying tools or materials, reducing the need for manual transport during yard work.
- Patrol Mode — allowing Yarbo to move along customizable routes around the property, with features such as remote live view, app-based alerts, and optional audio notifications via its built-in speaker, providing an added layer of awareness and convenience for users managing outdoor spaces.
The Smart Assist Module is positioned as part of Yarbo's broader effort to extend the practical use cases of its modular system.
Looking Ahead
The Yarbo Open Platform is planned for release in early 2027 and is being developed to support both the Y Series and M Series. By introducing a framework that combines software integration, developer tools, and hardware extensibility, Yarbo aims to enable a broader range of applications while allowing users to define how the system evolves over time.
Further details will be shared as development progresses.
About Yarbo
Yarbo is defining a new category of outdoor robotics with its Modular Yard Robot. Known for its automated snow blower robots, Yarbo introduced a modular system designed for year-round use. Powered by a single intelligent core unit, the system supports interchangeable modules for mowing, leaf blowing, snow clearing, and more—creating a more efficient approach to outdoor maintenance for homeowners.
Announced alongside M Series Smart Assist Module launch on Kickstarter
NEW YORK, April 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yarbo, a company focused on intelligent yard robotics, today announced the Yarbo Open Platform, a long-term initiative currently under development and planned for release in early 2027. Designed to expand Yarbo's modular yard robot system across both software and hardware, the platform is intended to support deeper customization, broader smart home connectivity, and new forms of user and developer-driven functionality over time. The announcement coincides with the launch of the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.
The Open Platform is not available today. Instead, it reflects Yarbo's roadmap for how its ecosystem may evolve over time, including a three-layer software architecture built around an Open API, SDK, and no-code Automation Editor, as well as a hardware expansion framework designed to support future user-built and developer-built modules.
A Structured Approach to Software Integration and Automation
The Yarbo Open Platform is structured to accommodate different levels of technical expertise, from everyday users to experienced developers. It is designed to provide multiple entry points into the Yarbo ecosystem, enabling both software-driven automation and hardware-level expansion.
On the software side, the platform consists of three layers:
- Yarbo Open API — intended to enable connectivity between Yarbo devices and external platforms, allowing them to participate in broader home automation scenarios.
- Yarbo SDK — a set of development tools, including code libraries and documentation, designed for developers building custom features or integrations.
- Yarbo Automation Editor — a visual, drag-and-drop interface within the Yarbo app that allows users to create automation workflows without writing code.
Together, these components are intended to make automation accessible to a wide range of users, while also supporting more advanced development use cases.
The platform is also designed to support compatibility with widely used smart home ecosystems, including Home Assistant, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, enabling users to incorporate Yarbo into existing connected home setups.
Extending Capability Through Hardware
In addition to software capabilities, the Open Platform introduces a hardware expansion approach designed to extend Yarbo's functionality beyond its existing modules.
At the center of this is CoreBridge, a standardized hardware interface currently in development that is intended to provide access to Yarbo's mechanical mounting points, power system, and data connections. It is designed to support third-party development and user-built extensions, allowing new types of functionality beyond pre-defined modules.
One example of this extensibility is an electromagnet-based module, which can be attached via CoreBridge to enable Yarbo to latch onto and move objects such as garbage bins. In a potential use scenario, this could enable automated movement of a bin to the curb on collection day and its return afterward.
This combination of software and hardware openness reflects an effort to expand the role of outdoor robotics beyond fixed-function devices.
Smart Assist Module Launch on Kickstarter
Alongside the Open Platform announcement, Yarbo is launching the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.
The module introduces two primary features designed to expand how users interact with their yard robot in everyday use:
- Follow Me Mode — enabling Yarbo to move alongside the user while carrying tools or materials, reducing the need for manual transport during yard work.
- Patrol Mode — allowing Yarbo to move along customizable routes around the property, with features such as remote live view, app-based alerts, and optional audio notifications via its built-in speaker, providing an added layer of awareness and convenience for users managing outdoor spaces.
The Smart Assist Module is positioned as part of Yarbo's broader effort to extend the practical use cases of its modular system.
Looking Ahead
The Yarbo Open Platform is planned for release in early 2027 and is being developed to support both the Y Series and M Series. By introducing a framework that combines software integration, developer tools, and hardware extensibility, Yarbo aims to enable a broader range of applications while allowing users to define how the system evolves over time.
Further details will be shared as development progresses.
About Yarbo
Yarbo is defining a new category of outdoor robotics with its Modular Yard Robot. Known for its automated snow blower robots, Yarbo introduced a modular system designed for year-round use. Powered by a single intelligent core unit, the system supports interchangeable modules for mowing, leaf blowing, snow clearing, and more—creating a more efficient approach to outdoor maintenance for homeowners.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Yarbo Introduces Open Platform Strategy, Opening Its Robotics System to Developers and Smart Home Ecosystems
Yarbo Introduces Open Platform Strategy, Opening Its Robotics System to Developers and Smart Home Ecosystems
