The donation marks Nilekani’s 50-year association with the Institute and will fund world-class infrastructure, research in emerging areas of engineering and technology, and a deep tech startup ecosystem at IIT Bombay. 

NEW DELHI, 20 JUNE, 2023 (GPN): Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder and Chairman of Infosys Ltd. and Founding Chairman of UIDAI, has donated INR 315 Crores ($ 38.5 Million) to his alma mater, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. This substantial contribution builds upon his previous grants of INR 85 Crores to the Institute, bringing the cumulative value of his support to INR 400 Crores. The donation will be instrumental in fostering world-class infrastructure, stimulating research in emerging areas of engineering and technology, and nurturing a deep tech startup ecosystem at IIT Bombay. 

The Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed today in Bengaluru by Nandan Nilekani and Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay. This significant contribution serves as the anchor for IIT Bombay’s ambitious vision to become a global leader among engineering and technology institutes and contribute significantly towards nation-building. 

Nilekani joined IIT Bombay in 1973 for a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. The donation marks the golden jubilee of Nilekani’s association with the Institute and reflects the deep bond he continues to share with his alma mater. It also stands as one of the largest donations made by an alumnus in India.   

Speaking about the donation, Nandan Nilekani said, “IIT-Bombay has been a cornerstone in my life, shaping my formative years and laying the foundation for my journey. As I celebrate 50 years of my association with this esteemed Institution, I am grateful to give forward and contribute to its future. This donation is more than just a financial contribution; it is a tribute to the place that has given me so much and a commitment to the students who will shape our world tomorrow.”

Pegging it as the beginning of a new era of IIT Bombay, Director Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri said, “We are extremely delighted to see our illustrious alumnus Nandan Nilekani, continuing his foundational & pioneering contributions to the Institute. This historic donation will significantly accelerate the growth of IIT Bombay and will firmly set it on a path of global leadership.  IIT Bombay is committed to building research and academic excellence that can make India a leader in scientific discovery and its translation towards solving the pressing challenges facing humankind. Nandan’s contribution will catalyse philanthropic contributions towards advancing research & development at universities in India.”

Over the last 50 years, Nilekani has stayed connected with the Institute in multiple roles. He served on the Board of the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation from 1999 to 2009 and was on the Board of Governors from 2005 to 2011. His initial contribution totalling up to INR 85 Crores over the years, was instrumental in constructing new hostels, co-financing the School of Information Technology, and establishing India’s first university incubator, thereby significantly boosting the Indian start-up ecosystem. He was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999, followed by an Honorary Doctorate in 2019 as part of the 57th convocation of IIT Bombay. 

IIT Bombay’s strategic plan for the coming decade includes setting up world-class centres of excellence in strategic areas such as Artificial Intelligence, green energy, quantum computing and others, nurturing a deep tech start-up eco-system, and providing best-in-class research, living, and academic facilities to students and faculty. The plan envisages fundraising of about USD 500 million over the next five years. Nilekani’s anchor contribution of USD 38.5 Million will help the Institute kick-start its plans and inspire others to join this transformative initiative.  

About Nandan Nilekani

Nandan Nilekani is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited. He was the Founding Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in the rank of a Cabinet Minister from 2009 – 2014. Nandan has co-founded and is the Chairman of EkStep Foundation, a not-for-profit effort to create a learner-centric, technology-based platform to improve basic literacy and numeracy for millions of children. In Jan 2023, he was appointed co-chair of the “G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Transformation, Financial Inclusion and Development”.

Born in Bengaluru, Nilekani received his Bachelor’s degree from IIT, Bombay. Fortune Magazine conferred him with “Asia’s Businessman of the Year 2003”. In 2005 he received the prestigious Joseph Schumpeter Prize for innovative services in economy, economic sciences and politics. In 2006, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. He was also named Businessman of the Year by Forbes Asia.

Time magazine listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 & 2009. Foreign Policy magazine listed him as one of the Top 100 Global thinkers in 2010. In 2014, He won The Economist Social & Economic Innovation Award for his leadership of India’s Unique Identification initiative (Aadhaar). In 2017, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from E & Y. CNBC- TV 18 conferred the India Business Leader award for outstanding contributor to the Indian Economy-2017, and he also received the 22nd Nikkei Asia Prize for Economic & Business Innovation 2017. He was inducted as an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019. Business  Standard Annual Awards 2022 conferred “The Life Time Achievement Award”.

Nandan Nilekani is the author of “Imagining India”, co-authored his second book with Viral Shah, “Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations” and co-authored his third book with Tanuj Bhojwani, “ The Art of Bitfulness: Keeping Calm in the Digital World” released in Jan 2022.Ends

About IIT Bombay  

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, set up in 1958 as the second IIT is recognised worldwide as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. The Institute was granted the status of ‘Institution of Eminence’ by the Ministry of Education (the then Ministry of Human Resources Development) on July 9, 2018. IIT Bombay is reputed for the quality of its faculty and the outstanding calibre of students graduating from its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Institute has 15 academic departments, 39 (Centres/ Programmes/ Academic facilities), three schools, and four Interdisciplinary programmes. Over the last six decades, more than 62,500 engineers and scientists have graduated from the Institute. It is served by more than 700 faculty members and is not only amongst the best in the country but also highly recognised in the world for achievements in the field of education and research. Very recently, IIT Bombay has been ranked first in India and 47th globally in Engineering and Technology in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject for 2023.