Key Takeaways
- BITS Pilani receives $1 million from alumnus Anurag Jain for AMRIT.
- The Goa center will advance research into two-dimensional and functional materials.
- AMRIT will explore applications in energy, semiconductors, sensors and carbon capture.
BITS Pilani has received a $1 million contribution from alumnus and entrepreneur Anurag Jain to establish a new advanced materials research center at its Goa campus, the institute said.
Centre Will Focus On Advanced Materials
The proposed Anurag Jain Materials Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence, or AMRIT, will focus on research, innovation and education in advanced materials.
BITS Pilani said the center will bring together researchers, students, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and international academic partners to develop advanced materials and turn laboratory research into commercially practical products.
The institute said the center will require a multi-million-dollar investment over the years as it develops.
Jain, a member of BITS Pilani’s 1988 graduating class, is chairman of Access Healthcare, a global healthcare services platform. He is also co-founder and managing partner of Perot Jain, a Dallas-based venture capital firm that invests in artificial intelligence, robotics and computer vision.
Research Targets Energy And Technology Uses
In its early stages, the center will focus on two-dimensional and functional materials and their potential applications across several energy and technology areas.
The research will examine uses in batteries, supercapacitors, hydrogen production, fuel cells, photovoltaics, carbon capture, semiconductors and sensors. It will also cover technologies involving energy utilization and storage.
BITS Pilani said the center will support research that could contribute to technologies needed in strategic industries.
The institute’s plans come as India increases public investment in critical minerals, semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy and other sectors considered important to the country’s technological development.
AMRIT Aims To Build Global Research Network
BITS Pilani said AMRIT will draw inspiration from government initiatives including the National Critical Mineral Mission and Semicon India. The institute aims to use the center to support technological self-reliance while building an internationally recognized research program.
The center is expected to collaborate with universities, laboratories, companies and experts in India and abroad. Distinguished scientists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders are also expected to advise the center and help guide its research, partnerships and development.
The institute said the center is intended to connect academic research with industry and commercialization, creating opportunities for laboratory innovations to progress toward practical products.
Jain’s contribution provides the initial $1 million funding for the proposed center, while BITS Pilani expects additional investment to be required over the coming years.