RT team
The Wadhwani Foundation has forged pivotal alliances with several top educational institutions, including AICTE, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IISc Bangalore, and C-CAMP, to establish the Wadhwani Innovation Network Centers of Excellence (WIN-COEs). These centers are designed to propel the commercialization of academic research, transforming innovative ideas from Indian faculties and students into practical, market-ready applications that enhance various industries and societal well-being.
In India, the engagement of higher education institutions in research is currently below 1 percent, contributing merely 9 percent to the nation’s Gross Expenditure in Research and Experimental Development (GERD). This results in a significant lag in market-driven innovation output from Indian universities.
The newly formed WIN-COEs aim to accelerate indigenous research and its applications, fostering a synergistic ecosystem that leverages emerging technologies such as Advanced AI, HealthTech, Semiconductors, Quantum Computing, and Space Tech. This initiative not only seeks to enhance collaboration among industries, universities, and the government but also aligns with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation’s (ANRF) strategy for science-driven growth.
Dr. Ajay Kela, President & CEO of the Wadhwani Foundation, highlighted the potential of emerging technologies to provide inclusive and equitable solutions. The foundation’s collaboration with entities like IIT Bombay has previously supported around 100 projects, with notable commercial successes. By establishing WIN-COEs, the foundation aims to magnify the impact of these solutions, driving them towards widespread real-world application.
Each WIN-COE will receive up to USD 1 million annually, with an additional collective investment of USD 10 million with AICTE to support over 100 more academic institutions. This funding will help sponsor approximately 25 interdisciplinary projects per WIN-COE annually, while the 13 AICTE Innovation Centers will support over 1000 projects each year from associated institutes.
Professor Abhay Karandikar from the Department of Science & Technology and Professor TG Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, both underscored the importance of fostering an innovative mindset among India’s youth, asserting that these initiatives are crucial for advancing India’s role as a leader in global scientific and technological development.
