FedEx has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to launch the SMART Centre (Supply Chain Modelling, Algorithms, Research and Technology Centre) on the institute’s campus.

Supported by a five-year, USD five million FedEx grant, the centre aims to accelerate innovation in logistics by integrating advanced research, AI, and technology to create agile, resilient, and environmentally sustainable supply chains. The SMART Centre will undertake interdisciplinary projects covering carbon-neutral operations, autonomous logistics infrastructure, predictive analytics, and AI-based worker safety solutions. It will also serve as a knowledge-sharing hub, fostering collaboration across academia, industry, and government stakeholders.

The inauguration was attended by senior FedEx executives, including Kami Viswanathan, President, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa, and Mohamad Tatiwala, Vice President, Marketing, Customer Experience, and Air Network, MEISA, alongside IIT Madras leaders Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, and Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations).