BITS Pilani launches PhD Program to create Deep Tech Ventures

New Delhi, 19 August 2023: BITS Pilani has introduced the launch of an modern Ph.D. A program that may end in creation of a startup primarily based on analysis finished in the course of the Ph.D. The program will concentrate on the creation of deep tech and deep science startup ventures, that can resolve among the most important societal and enterprise challenges. This is retaining in step with BITS Pilani’s historical past of introducing improvements within the greater training area over the previous 60 Years, be it the Practice School idea, the first-ever dual-degree applications, or newer pedagogical practices.

The new program, to be known as as PhD-DRIVE, brief for Deep-tech Research, Innovation, Value Generation & Entrepreneurship, will admit college students with experience in expertise and science, and a transparent intent to arrange a startup. The program will embrace programs in entrepreneurship, incubation program, funding for constructing an answer or product, and most of all, entry to BITS alumni community for additional investments.

Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani mentioned, “The world requires our greatest researchers and lecturers to put their modern analysis to use in fixing the most important challenges going through humanity. As a rustic, we haven’t finished sufficient within the space of Deep Technology and Deep Science ventures, the place a startup takes a very long time to turn into viable. With this new program, we would like PhD students to turn into an entrepreneur together with turning into an innovator, and never simply have a look at an instructional profession submit their PhDs”. Goal will probably be to incubate 100 startups by this program by 2030, mentioned Prof. Rao. BITS Pilani alumni have created over 7400 startups of worth everywhere in the world up to now together with 13 unicorns and a decacorn.

He additional added, “Our present focus areas embrace options to deal with points associated to homeland and cyber safety, healthcare, atmosphere, agriculture, area, and vitality. Many sub-domains in these areas associated to local weather change, trade 4.0, meals expertise, and so on will probably be of curiosity. The concept is to make superior applied sciences comparable to quantum science and nanotechnology work for individuals on the grassroots. The Ph.D. college students below this startup monitor shall be a part of a centre of excellence or a specialised lab at BITS Pilani working in these areas.”

BITS Pilani and its expertise enterprise incubators comparable to DST-supported PIEDS, BIRAC-supported BGIIES, and the DST NM-ICPS-supported BioCyTIH will work with numerous companions together with funding companions, authorities labs, trade specialists, corporates, and BITS alumni to hold the Ph.D. students on a path of forming a startup, and likewise create alternatives for them to search additional investments. Speciale Invest, a number one enterprise capital agency with a spotlight to put money into deep tech startups has already expressed their early help to this system. Vishesh Rajaram, Managing Partner, Speciale Invest, mentioned, “Academia is a breeding floor for deeptech improvements and as a number one deep-tech investor in India, we’re excited to associate with BITS Pilani in an modern programme to foster the following era of deep science and deeptech entrepreneurs.”

Rajaram additional provides, “shaping holistic founders who perceive expertise and enterprise will probably be a vital hyperlink for the present decade of India Deep Tech to achieve success. Having invested in a number of deep tech startups on the early stage together with these in area tech, electrical mobility, batteries, robotics, and semiconductors amongst others, we glance ahead to taking part in an energetic position in serving to Ph.D. college students ideate, construct, iterate, and commercialize improvements which have a large-scale influence on India and the world.”

The students will probably be working in numerous Centre of Excellences that BITS has already arrange within the areas of Semiconductors, Bio-Cyber Physical Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Medical Diagnostics, and Infectious Diseases, amongst others. The students can be supported by a a lot greater stipend and can be supplied a prototyping grant throughout this system.

Suresh Kabra, the alumnus of the 82-87 batch, below the auspices of Prof. Dr. Suman Kapoor Memorial Charitable Trust, has determined to sponsor 3 ladies Ph.D. Scholars with modern concepts within the Biological Sciences space, together with the seed funds. Kabra mentioned, “BITS Pilani has a powerful entrepreneurial tradition amongst the undergraduate ranges and within the alumni group. With Ph.D. and post-doc students being inspired to arrange a enterprise, it should augur nicely for the deep science innovation ecosystem on its campuses. The trade wants software of elementary analysis being finished at Ph.D. degree and this can be a step in the best route.”

The admission for this program will probably be around the 12 months and notifications for the program shall be posted on BITS web site and its social media channels. BITS Pilani is leveraging its sturdy alumni community and company companions for funding and mentorship help.

BITS Pilani is an establishment of eminence that provides applications in science, expertise, and administration from its 5 campuses – Pilani, Dubai, Goa, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. In 2021, it launched BITS School of Management (BITSoM), a new-age world enterprise college, and in 2023, it started providing applications in Law by the BITS Law School (BITSLaw). It additionally presents program to working professionals in additional than 300 corporations by its Work Integrated Learning Programs.