Credentials

The Indian Institute of Technology, IIT, Kanpur has launched a USD 1-billion fundraising campaign to strengthen its research infrastructure, support students and faculty, and accelerate deep-tech innovation, with Rs 4,155 crore already committed towards the target. The campaign, titled โGreater Than Usโ, was launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The institute aims to raise the funds by March 2029, making it the largest fundraising campaign undertaken by any IIT. As part of the initiative, IIT Kanpur has also announced the Gautam School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (G-SINE) at its Noida campus, following a Rs 180-crore commitment from alumnus Rahul Gautam.
Speaking at the campaign launch, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the legacy of the IITs, saying their founding generations built institutions of excellence despite limited resources. He said the IIT Kanpur campaign would carry this legacy forward by linking scientific discovery and technological innovation with national development.
"Great institutions take decades to build. The early generations who founded and strengthened the IITs worked with limited resources but extraordinary commitment. They built not just campuses and laboratories but a culture of excellence, service, and nation-building. Our responsibility is to carry that legacy forward," he said.
Singh said the instituteโs legacy would grow through successive generations, reflected in the talent it nurtures, knowledge it advances, technologies it develops and opportunities it creates.
"The IIT Kanpur campaign gives us a chance to prepare the institution for a future in which scientific discovery, technological innovation, and national development are closely linked. Its success will show in the talent it nurtures, the knowledge it advances, the technologies it helps develop, and the opportunities it creates for generations to come," he further added.
IIT Kanpur has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with alumnus Rahul Gautam, who has committed Rs 180 crore to establish the Gautam School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the institute's Noida campus.
The school is scheduled to begin operations in July 2027 with a flagship MBA programme in Technology and Entrepreneurship. It will have its own full-time faculty and degree programmes, focusing on developing technology-driven entrepreneurs and future business leaders in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, digital health, biotechnology, drones and advanced manufacturing.
G-SINE will work alongside the proposed Deep Tech Hub at the Noida campus, providing students access to advanced technology facilities to turn research into market-ready products. It will also leverage IIT Kanpur's Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), which has incubated 571 startups.
IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal said nearly half of the fundraising target had been committed before the campaign's formal announcement. He added that the initiative would bring together alumni, industry partners, donors and institutions to support the institute's next phase of growth.
The campaign will focus on three pillars: Foundation, Talent and Frontier. The Foundation pillar will support research infrastructure, including a Rs 524-crore Central Research Facility and a Rs 200-crore high-performance computing facility. Campus expansion plans include four student hostels, 96 faculty apartments and a Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
The Talent pillar aims to raise Rs 3,000 crore for scholarships, doctoral fellowships, faculty recruitment and entrepreneurship programmes, with the institute aiming to provide financial support to every eligible student.
The Frontier pillar has already secured Rs 1,556 crore against its Rs 1,000-crore target. It will fund projects in AI, quantum technology, semiconductors, cybersecurity and medical technology, including a Quantum Technology Centre, a semiconductor packaging centre and a drug discovery programme.
The fundraising campaign builds on the institute's existing work in applied research and technology development. IIT Kanpur's AI engine supports the government's Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), while its cybersecurity researchers operate a security operations centre at the Bhilai Steel Plant.
Faculty-led startups have also developed a heavy-payload logistics drone and a strike drone, highlighting the institute's focus on translating research into practical applications.
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With its USD 1-billion fundraising target, IIT Kanpur aims to expand its research capabilities, attract talent and strengthen India's deep-tech ecosystem. The campaign will seek to translate donor commitments into research breakthroughs, new enterprises and technologies that contribute to India's scientific and technological development.
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