News Desk: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has secured fundraising commitments worth ₹4,155 crore towards its ambitious ₹5,000 crore target, making it the largest fundraising campaign undertaken by any IIT. The institute launched its campaign, titled ‘Greater Than Us’, on Wednesday, with a focus on expanding research infrastructure, attracting global talent and developing indigenous technologies.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the campaign at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. IIT Kanpur aims to achieve its fundraising target by March 2029, although institute director Manindra Agrawal said the goal could be reached as early as next year.
The campaign is built around three pillars: Foundation, Talent and Frontier. Foundation focuses on infrastructure development, with a target of ₹5,000 crore, while Talent aims to raise ₹3,000 crore for academic and research talent. Frontier has a target of ₹1,000 crore for advanced research and technology development.
The institute has identified seven strategic areas for investment: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, drone technologies, medical technologies, sustainability, semiconductors and quantum technologies. These fields have been selected based on IIT Kanpur’s research capabilities and India’s growing technological requirements.
Under the Foundation initiative, the institute plans to establish a central research facility worth ₹524 crore and a high-performance computing facility costing ₹200 crore. It will also invest in semiconductor research infrastructure, four student hostels with a capacity of 1,000 students each, faculty housing and a centre dedicated to mental health and wellbeing.
The Talent pillar will support scholarships, doctoral fellowships, faculty chairs and visiting faculty programmes. The institute aims to provide financial assistance to every eligible student.
Meanwhile, Frontier has already secured ₹1,556 crore in commitments, exceeding its ₹1,000 crore target. The funds will support research in quantum technology, semiconductor packaging, medical devices and drug discovery.
Speaking at the launch, Rajnath Singh stressed the importance of collaboration between academic institutions, the armed forces and industry. He said IITs could play a significant role in developing technologies that meet India’s defence requirements and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem.
IIT Kanpur also signed a memorandum of understanding with alumnus and industrialist Rahul Gautam, who has committed ₹180 crore to establish the Gautam School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the institute’s Noida campus.
The school plans to launch an MBA programme in Technology and Entrepreneurship in July 2027, covering fields such as AI, cybersecurity, digital health, biotechnology, drones and advanced manufacturing.
According to Agrawal, alumni have contributed approximately $100 million towards the campaign, with a similar amount coming from corporate donors. Government support and other initiatives account for the remaining commitments.
The fundraising drive reflects IIT Kanpur’s ambition to strengthen its research capabilities and support the development of technologies critical to India’s long-term scientific and economic growth.
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