“We Have A Portfolio Of Over 150 Incubated Startups”

“We’re glad that in the recent NIRF 2023, we have been ranked number one in the Innovation category. This bears testimony to the significant growth of IIT Kanpur's innovation ecosystem in recent years” 

What goes into the making of a great engineering institute, and how has IIT Kanpur, which has a great legacy, transformed itself to meet the 21st Century needs?

Building a pioneering and state-of-the-art engineering institute or any academic institution, not only takes years of collective efforts from all stakeholders but is a continuing process of adapting to rapid changes in the field in addition to contributing by engaging in path-breaking research.

The institute has always stayed ahead in terms of outlook and output. August 1963 changed the face of computer education and research in the country with the first IBM 1620 computer installed at IIT Kanpur. This marked a new era for India with the first-ever computer course starting at IIT Kanpur, and since then, we have never looked back and have consistently been maintaining our leadership position in this domain. Our strong emphasis on interdisciplinary education, promoting collaborations across engineering, sciences, humanities, and management, enables our students to develop a broader perspective and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills, which are crucial in today's complex and interconnected world.

Our flourishing technology business incubator – Startup Incubation & Innovation Centre offers entrepreneurship opportunities across diverse domains such as Cyber Security, Blockchain, Defence, Medtech, AI/ML, Cleantech, Greentech, Agritech, Fintech etc. Whether it is in academics or in research and innovation, we cater to the growing needs of the present and the future.

With AI causing big disruptions, and also with the massive lay-offs by big corporations in the last one year or so, how are engineering colleges bracing for the new challenges at this juncture, and what is the priority for faculty and students at a premier institute like IIT Kanpur?

As a higher educational institute, we recognise the criticality of addressing these challenges and preparing our faculty and students accordingly.

For students, rather than fixating on potential job losses with the advent of AI, the emphasis should be on preparing for the new paths and opportunities it will create. A well-rounded education that combines technical proficiency with soft skills, critical thinking, and adaptability, will be key, going ahead.

IIT Kanpur is already actively offering various UG, PG and eMasters programmes that caters to AI/ML directly or correlatively. Under the guidance of renowned faculty members, students are being engaged in large and collaborative R&D projects having real-life applications, ensuring they are job-ready upon graduation.

How can engineering colleges enable a meaningful career for their students, one that gives financial empowerment and also impacts society positively?

At IIT Kanpur, we have an impressive track record of placements, with our students securing significant opportunities nationally and globally. Apart from the regular placements, one of our key focus over the last few years, has been to promote entrepreneurship among graduating students so that they can become job creators, rather than merely job seekers.

We have a Student Entrepreneurship Policy which encourages students to incubate startups. This policy provides an option for students to undertake entrepreneurship activities under a faculty or external mentor by two distinct routes - (1) by registering for the semester and opting for ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship Credits’ (IEC), or (2) by taking a semester drop for doing innovation and entrepreneurship activities (in which case, no IECs credit registration is necessary).

What work has been done on the research, incubation, and startup front in the last few years?

IIT Kanpur has made significant strides in research and innovation in recent years. We’re glad that in the recent NIRF 2023, we have been ranked number one in the Innovation category. This bears testimony to the significant growth of IIT Kanpur's innovation ecosystem in recent years. Our Startup Incubation & Innovation Centre has experienced rapid expansion, nurturing startups in some of the most cutting-edge technologies such as Cyber Security, Blockchain, Defence, AI/ML, Cleantech, Greentech, Agritech, and Fintech.

One of our notable strengths at IIT Kanpur is the establishment of a robust management system for Intellectual Property Rights protection and technology commercialisation. We filed a record-breaking 109 IPRs in 2022 and 960+ overall IPRs till date, along with licensing 132 technologies to industry partners.

Our diverse portfolio of more than 150 incubated startups covers innovations in social impact, disability assistance, medical technology, agritech, sustainability and various other areas.

In terms of research, during Covid, our research team completed the herculean task of developing a low-cost ICU ventilator within just 90 days. We also worked on developing N95 masks, 'Sanjeevani' oxygen concentrator, and many more life-saving devices.

We are striving to achieve SDGs by 2030. As the head of a premier engineering college, what approach would you suggest towards sustainability?

Sustainability is a collective responsibility of all. As higher educational institutes, we do have a greater role to play in terms of newer innovations and execution of sustainability frameworks. But before starting elsewhere, I think we can start within our own campuses. One

prime step is to make IIT campuses carbon-neutral as it already covers large landmasses. Under the Chandrakanta Kesavan Centre for Energy Policy and Climate Solutions at IIT Kanpur and with collective efforts under the Sustainable Energy Engineering Department, we’re aiming for a net-zero campus by 2030 in carbon, water and landfill waste. We already have vehicular regulations in place. Moreover, with the formation of students-led ‘sustainability cell’ and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Student Chapter, we are connecting the students to a larger community.