ArdorComm Media News Network
October 16, 2026
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has announced plans to establish a ₹180-crore school dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship at its Noida campus, alongside a major fundraising campaign targeting $1 billion (approximately ₹9,000 crore) by March 2029.
Named the Gautam School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (G-SINE), the new institution aims to help students transform research and emerging technologies into commercially viable products and technology-driven startups. Its flagship MBA programme in Technology and Entrepreneurship is scheduled to commence in July 2027.
The school forms part of IIT Kanpur’s ‘Greater Than Us’ campaign, which will support research and development across seven strategic technology domains: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, drones, medical technology, sustainability, semiconductors and quantum technologies. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the campaign in New Delhi on October 14.
According to IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal, the institute has already secured commitments worth ₹4,155 crore from alumni, corporate donors, government bodies and other partners, representing nearly half of the overall fundraising target.
G-SINE is being established with a ₹180-crore commitment from IIT Kanpur alumnus Rahul Gautam, with a memorandum of understanding signed during the campaign launch.
Agrawal emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between laboratory research and commercial deployment. The school will focus on helping faculty members and students advance technologies towards market readiness, with entrepreneurship and startup development forming central elements of its approach.
The institution will have dedicated full-time faculty members and degree programmes, covering areas such as AI, cybersecurity, digital health, biotechnology, drones and advanced manufacturing. It will also work alongside a proposed Deep Tech Hub at the Noida campus, providing students with access to product development and testing facilities. The institute’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), which has incubated 571 startups, will further support the initiative.
The ₹9,000-crore fundraising campaign is structured around three pillars: Foundation, Talent and Frontier. Of the total target, ₹5,000 crore is earmarked for infrastructure, including research facilities, computing resources and student housing. Another ₹3,000 crore will support scholarships, doctoral fellowships and faculty recruitment, while ₹1,000 crore will be allocated to strategic technology initiatives.
Agrawal said the campaign reflects IIT Kanpur’s commitment to strengthening India’s capabilities in strategically important technologies and reducing dependence on external technology ecosystems. The initiative builds on the institute’s existing specialised schools in medical sciences and technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability. IIT Kanpur also plans to establish dedicated funds to attract leading faculty members without financial constraints becoming a barrier to recruitment.
Source: Indian Express