BITS Pilani gets $1 million gift from alumnus to set up advanced materials centre

BITS Pilani has received a $1 million seed gift from alumnus Anurag Jain to set up the AMRIT advanced materials centre at its Goa campus. The centre aims to connect research with industry and commercialisation in batteries, hydrogen, semiconductors and other strategic areas.

In Short

• AMRIT will unite researchers, students, industry and global academic partners
• Initial research will target batteries, hydrogen, photovoltaics, semiconductors and sensors
• The centre will push technology translation, patents, partnerships and startup creation

Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani has received a $1 million seed funding gift from alumnus and entrepreneur Anurag Jain to establish a new Centre of Excellence for advanced materials research and innovation at its Goa campus.

The AMRIT — Anurag Jain Materials Research and Innovation Center of Excellence will bring together researchers, students, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and international academic partners to develop advanced materials and help translate laboratory research into commercially viable technologies.

BITS Pilani said the centre will require a multi-million-dollar investment over the years as it expands its research and innovation activities.

FOCUS ON BATTERIES, HYDROGEN AND SEMICONDUCTORS

The centre will initially focus on two-dimensional and functional materials, with research aimed at applications across several strategic technology areas.

These include batteries and supercapacitors, hydrogen production and fuel cells, photovoltaics, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, semiconductors and sensors.

The centre will also work on technology translation, industry partnerships, intellectual property development and the creation of materials-focused startups.

BITS Pilani Vice-Chancellor Professor V Ramgopal Rao said advanced materials are critical to several technologies India is seeking to develop, including batteries, hydrogen systems, semiconductors and sensors.

“Too often, promising materials research remains confined to the laboratory,” Rao said, adding that the centre will focus on research with a pathway towards practical applications, improved manufacturing processes and commercialisation.

AIM TO TAKE RESEARCH FROM LAB TO MARKET

The AMRIT centre is being established as India increases its focus on critical minerals, semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy and other strategic industries.

BITS Pilani said the centre will seek to strengthen India's technological capabilities by collaborating with universities, laboratories, companies and experts in India and abroad.

It also plans to involve scientists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders in advising the centre and guiding its research, partnerships and commercialisation efforts.

Anurag Jain, a member of the BITS Pilani graduating class of 1988, said India has an opportunity to become a global leader in advanced materials and the technologies they enable.

He said the centre aims to bring together research, talent and industry partnerships to create intellectual property, support new ventures and develop technologies with applications in India and globally.

Jain is chairman of Access Healthcare and co-founder and managing partner of Perot Jain, a Dallas-based venture capital firm focused on areas including artificial intelligence, robotics and computer vision. He previously served as president of Perot Systems and Dell Services.

Professor Arya Kumar, Dean of Alumni Relations at BITS Pilani, said the investment would provide students and researchers with access to advanced infrastructure, interdisciplinary research opportunities and global expertise.

The institute said the centre will also train researchers, engineers and specialists for careers in academia and industry while supporting the development of science- and technology-driven companies.

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