The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) or IIT-M is an autonomous public engineering and research institution located in Chennai (formerly Madras), Tamil Nadu, India. It is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Founded in 1959 with technical and financial assistance from the former government of West Germany, it was the third Indian Institute of Technology that was established by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament, to provide education and research facilities in engineering and technology.