Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani donates ₹315 crores to IIT Bombay

As per the release, this substantial contribution builds upon his previous grants of ₹85 Crores to the Institute, bringing the cumulative value of his support to ₹400 Crores.

Nandan Nilekani said, “IIT-Bombay has been a cornerstone in my life, shaping my formative years and laying the foundation for my journey. 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.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed today in Bengaluru by Nandan Nilekani and Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay.

The release noted that 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.

IITB Director Subhasis Chaudhuri said that this 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 and development at universities in India.”

Nandan Nilekani 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 January 2023, he was appointed co-chair of the “G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Transformation, Financial Inclusion and Development”.

Updated: 20 Jun 2023, 12:16 PM IST