"WE SUPPORT BUDDING STARTUPS"

MANINDRA AGRAWAL, Director, IIT Kanpur talks about how the institute's focus on entrepreneurship and cutting-edge research facilities creates a fertile ground for transformative ideas to flourish.

- Mayank Badhwar

How can IIT Kanpur bridge the gap between research breakthroughs and real-world applications for businesses?

Translational research is very important in ensuring that the benefits of technologies developed in the lab reach society. Over the years, IIT Kanpur has been focusing significantly on translational research, as evidenced by growing research projects across different areas. The year 2023-24 alone has seen 1,610 externally-funded ongoing projects on campus. During 2023-24, 242 IPRs were granted to IIT Kanpur and 14 technologies were licensed to industry partners.

The institute has a thriving innovation ecosystem. The Technology Business Incubator of IIT Kanpur, the Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), operating under the brand name Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, supports budding startups and facilitates bridging the gap between innovation and real-world applications.

What excites you most about IIT Kanpur's potential for business yentures spun from student ideas?

Recently, the institute has created a Student Entrepreneurship Policy that allows students to meaningfully engage in innovation and entrepreneurship activities, including registering their own companies, during their tenure as students. The policy provides tremendous impetus to the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that already exists at the institute.