IIT Kanpur Launches $1 Bn Campaign to Advance Deep-Tech Innovation, Including Digital Health

Called ‘Greater Than Us’, the campaign aims to raise the funds by March 2029, with INR 4,155 Cr already committed by alumni, donors, corporate partners and the government.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has launched a $1 Bn fundraising campaign to expand research infrastructure, develop emerging technologies, and support future innovators.

Called ‘Greater Than Us’, the campaign launched by defence minister Rajnath Singh aims to raise the funds by March 2029, with INR 4,155 Cr already committed by alumni, donors, corporate partners and the government.

The initiative is structured around three pillars: Foundation, Talent and Frontier, which will support institutional infrastructure, researchers and technology development.

A key development is the proposed Gautam School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (G-SINE) at IIT Kanpur’s Noida campus.

The institute has signed a memorandum of understanding with alumnus Rahul Gautam, who has committed INR 180 Cr towards establishing the school.

Scheduled to begin operations in July 2027, G-SINE will offer a flagship MBA in Technology and Entrepreneurship. It will focus on developing technology-driven founders and leaders across sectors, including AI, cybersecurity, digital health, biotechnology, drones and advanced manufacturing.

The school will work alongside a proposed Deep Tech Hub at the Noida campus, providing access to technology facilities to help students translate research into products.

It will also draw on IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), which has incubated 571 startups.

Under the Foundation pillar, IIT Kanpur will develop research infrastructure, including a Central Research Facility with advanced equipment, semiconductor and device processing capabilities, and spectroscopy and microscopy centres. A high-performance computing facility will support AI research and scientific simulations.

The Talent pillar will focus on scholarships, doctoral fellowships, faculty recruitment and entrepreneurship programmes. The institute aims to expand financial support for eligible students while strengthening its research and academic workforce.

The Frontier pillar will support emerging technologies through initiatives such as a Quantum Technology Centre, a Centre of Excellence for Semiconductor Packaging, medical device prototyping and testing facilities, and drug discovery programmes targeting cancer, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.

Through the $1 Bn ‘Greater Than Us’ campaign, IIT Kanpur aims to strengthen its research ecosystem, nurture technology entrepreneurs and expand India’s capacity to develop advanced technologies.

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