Bengaluru, August 19, 2026: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) launched Future Networks Empowerment through Mentorship (FNEM) – Powering CTU (Connecting the Unconnected) at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore), a landmark initiative designed to empower early-stage technology innovators, start-ups, researchers, and engineers to develop sustainable solutions that address rural connectivity challenges and bridge the digital divide. The launch also marked the commencement of the inaugural cohort of the FNEM Powering CTU programme in India. Despite rapid advances in digital technologies, nearly half of the world’s population (around 3.7 billion) remains without meaningful internet connectivity, with rural and underserved communities disproportionately affected. Bridging this divide requires not only technological innovation, but also long-term mentorship.
The launch event brought together researchers, startup founders, engineers, investors, standards experts, industry leaders, faculty members, and students to foster collaboration and accelerate technology translation. Through the programme’s 1,000-Day LAMP (Learning, Action, Mentorship & Practice) journey, participants will receive structured mentorship, technical guidance, and entrepreneurial support to transform innovative ideas into scalable, real-world solutions for rural and underserved communities.
Dr. Ashutosh Dutta, Faculty from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Sudhir Dixit from Basic Internet Foundation, and Prof. Ruolin Zhou, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, co-chairs of IEEE CTU program talked about the vision behind the programme which is designed to help young innovators gain access to world-class mentorship and technical expertise, enabling them to develop sustainable connectivity solutions that can make a meaningful difference to underserved communities.
Sharing the vision of the initiative, Prof. Ashutosh Dutta Co-Chair of IEEE CTU said, “The IEEE CTU FNEM kick-off program at IIIT Bangalore paved the way for implementing various award winning CTU technologies at the grass-root level to address the digital divide. This kick-off event was able to bring the mentors and mentees on the same platform to discuss the training materials and is the first step towards activating the LAMP programme supported by Lemelson Foundation and IEEE Foundation”.
Dr. Sudhir Dixit Co-Chair of IEEE CTU highlighted the program’s broader impact, stating “The FNEM programme concluded at IIIT- Bangalore, inspired entrepreneurs through a daylong mentorship with experience, strategic guidance, and trusted networks, helping them transform innovative ideas into sustainable solutions that expand affordable Internet access, bridge the digital divide, and connect underserved communities worldwide. In a nutshell, this program will act as a catalyst to accelerate entrepreneurial success”.
Prof. Ruolin Zhou Co-Chair of IEEE CTU emphasized the value of long-term mentorship, saying “By pairing CTU innovators with experienced mentors at the FNEM kick-off event held at IIIT – Bangalore, the programme is helping transform promising ideas into practical and scalable solutions. Through this 1,000-day mentorship journey, we aim to empower innovators to develop sustainable technologies that expand connectivity, bridge the global digital divide, and connect the unconnected.”
The program hosted multiple invited talks and a panel discussion from distinguished industry experts covering Entrepreneurship, Mentorship, Intellectual property and IEEE Rural Broadband Standards. The daylong program also provided a brief overview of five modules designed exclusively as part of LAMP curriculum and covering topics such as Technological entrepreneurship, Technology skill development, Business skill development, Community & User engagement and Local context & regulatory navigation. IEEE MOVE (Mobile Outreach Vehicle) Truck was a special attraction during the event aligning with the conference theme of rural connectivity and bridging the digital divide.
Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Chair of IEEE Future Direction Committee said “As new technologies are developed it is important to demonstrate their feasibility and use to the community at large. Such outreach was demonstrated and very well received. I would like to thank the FNEM and CTU team for organizing this event”.
Dr. Dilip Krishnaswamy, Executive Vice-president C-DOT Bangalore, highlighted the value of structured mentorship for deep-tech entrepreneurs and said “Entrepreneurs working in areas related to social good use-cases such as CTU (Connecting the Unconnected) can be in different stages of development, such as in an idea gestation phase, or in an early-stage proof-of-concept phase, or in a relatively mature pilot phase of development.”
Dr. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, said, “IIIT-Bangalore is pleased to host the India launch of IEEE FNEM through Mentorship, an initiative that aligns closely with our commitment to research, innovation, and technology-driven societal impact for connect the unconnected (CTU) in rural areas. “
To address this challenge, IEEE FNEM has introduced an ambitious 1,000-Day LAMP Journey (Learning, Action, Mentorship & Practice) – a structured innovation and mentorship program that supports participants from concept development through proof-of-concept, validation, commercialization, and sustainable business growth.
Going forward, participants in the program will have the opportunity to develop innovative proof-of-concepts that address real-world rural connectivity and engineering challenges while receiving one-on-one mentorship from globally recognized IEEE technology experts and industry leaders. The program will also equip participants with knowledge in technology commercialization, standards development, entrepreneurship, investment readiness, and business strategy, enabling them to build scalable and sustainable technology ventures capable of creating measurable social and economic impact
The first cohort of FNEM Powering CTU has been possible through the generous support and collaboration of several leading organizations committed to advancing technology for societal benefit. The Lemelson Foundation provides strategic support for the global FNEM programme, reinforcing its mission of strengthening invention-based entrepreneurship for social impact. IIIT-Bangalore hosted the India launch and serves as a key academic and innovation partner through its IEEE Student branch chapter. The COMET Foundation at IIIT-Bangalore contributes its expertise in telecommunications research, deep-technology innovation, and entrepreneurship, while the IEEE Standards Association brings global leadership in standards development, enabling innovators to design interoperable, scalable, and internationally relevant technology solutions. IEEE Bangalore section and IEEE Comsoc Bangalore chapter served as technical partners to the event along with other IEEE Societies, such as IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology, IEEE Reliability Society, IEEE System Council, IEEE Technology & Engineering Management Society, IEEE Entrepreneurship Bangalore Section Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, IEEE Future Directions, IEEE MOVE, MTT-S, MXR, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, IEEE Education Society and IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed.
The support of Ms. Ritu Srivastava (Program manager for LAMP), Craig Polk (IEEE Project manager) and Sandeep Agrawal (Scientist, C-DOT) have been invaluable for the success of the first cohort in India.
The initiative reflects IEEE’s commitment to advancing technology for humanity by enabling innovators to transform promising ideas into impactful solutions that improve lives and expand digital opportunities.
As India continues to strengthen its position as a global innovation hub, FNEM Powering CTU aims to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of developing affordable, sustainable, and inclusive connectivity solutions aligned with the vision of Digital India and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
