IIT Kanpur launches $1 billion fundraising campaign to invest in foundational facilities

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has launched ‘Greater Than Us’, a fundraising campaign with a target of $1 billion (approximately ₹8,300 crore) by March 2029. The initiative aims to strengthen research infrastructure, support young talent and accelerate the development of technologies and startups that could contribute to India’s economic and technological ambitions.

Described as the largest fundraising campaign undertaken by an IIT, the initiative has already secured commitments worth ₹4,155 crore from alumni, donors and corporate partners, accounting for nearly half of its target.

“What IIT Kanpur is setting out to build is greater than any one of us. It is an investment in the young Indians who will build this country’s future. Nearly half of this goal was committed before we announced it, and that tells us donors believe in where we are going,” said Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur.

The campaign is structured around three pillars — Foundation, Talent and Frontier — focusing on research infrastructure, human capital and emerging technologies.

Foundation: Building research infrastructure

The Foundation pillar has a target of ₹5,000 crore and will fund research facilities and institutional infrastructure to support the institute’s next phase of growth.

A key component is a ₹524 crore Central Research Facility, which will provide researchers with access to advanced equipment. This includes a ₹160 crore semiconductor and device processing centre with a clean room, alongside advanced spectroscopy and microscopy facilities.

The institute also plans to establish a ₹200 crore high-performance computing facility equipped with advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) to support artificial intelligence (AI) research and scientific simulations.

On the residential front, four new halls of residence, each with a capacity of 1,000 students, are under construction. The first is expected to be completed by June 2027. The plans also include 96 faculty apartments and a Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing.

Talent: Supporting students and entrepreneurs

The Talent pillar has a target of ₹3,000 crore and will focus on students, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, faculty members and future leaders.

The proposed investments include scholarships, additional doctoral fellowships and financial support for every eligible student. The initiative will also fund faculty chairs, fellowships for young faculty members and a global visiting faculty programme.

Entrepreneurship is another focus area, with support planned for student-led ventures across sectors such as defence, aerospace, medical technology (MedTech), clean technology (CleanTech) and agricultural technology (AgriTech).

Frontier: Advancing deep-tech research

The Frontier pillar focuses on translating fundamental research into commercial and real-world applications across AI, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, semiconductors, drones, MedTech and sustainability.

The initiative has already exceeded its ₹1,000 crore target, attracting commitments worth ₹1,556 crore.

Planned projects include a Quantum Technology Centre designed to bring quantum hardware and software development under one roof, and a Centre of Excellence for Semiconductor Packaging to support India’s ambitions in chip assembly and testing.

IIT Kanpur also plans to establish a medical devices prototyping and testing facility, against the backdrop of India’s dependence on imports for 80% of its high-end medical devices. A drug discovery programme targeting cancer, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases is also part of the plan.

The institute cited several existing applications of its research, including an AI engine that powers the government’s Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), a cybersecurity operations centre run by its researchers at the Bhilai Steel Plant, and faculty-led startups developing heavy-payload logistics drones and strike drones.

IIT Kanpur's Noida campus to house innovation school

Separately, IIT Kanpur has signed a memorandum of understanding with alumnus Rahul Gautam, who has committed ₹180 crore to establish the Gautam School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (G-SINE) at the institute’s Noida campus.

The school aims to develop technology-focused founders and business leaders across high-growth sectors, including AI, cybersecurity, digital health, biotechnology, drones and advanced manufacturing. It will have dedicated full-time faculty and degree programmes, with a planned launch in July 2027 through a flagship MBA in Technology & Entrepreneurship.

G-SINE will work alongside the proposed Deep Tech Hub at the Noida campus, providing students with access to advanced technology facilities to develop products based on research. It will also draw on the institute’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), which has incubated 571 startups.

“India cannot borrow the technologies that will define its future. We have to build them. The next deep-tech companies will start in a lab, not a garage, and G-SINE will train the founders who build them. This campaign is an invitation to every alumnus, partner and friend of IIT Kanpur to help write the Institute’s next chapter. Every commitment is tied to a defined purpose, whether a school, a facility, a chair or a programme,” Prof. Agrawal said.