IIT Kanpur launched its Greater Than Us campaign on October 14, aiming to raise $1 billion by March 2029. The campaign, described as the largest fundraising effort by any IIT, has already secured commitments worth ₹4,155 crore, nearly half of the target. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the event at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with support from alumni, donors, corporate partners, and the government, according to livemint.com.
The campaign focuses on three pillars: Foundation, Talent, and Frontier, to fund research facilities, student support, and indigenous technologies. Alumnus Rahul Gautam committed ₹180 crore to establish the Gautam School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IIT Kanpur’s Noida campus. The school, set to open in July 2027, will offer an MBA in Technology and Entrepreneurship with full-time faculty and degree programs, training founders in AI, cybersecurity, digital health, biotechnology, drones, and advanced manufacturing, livemint.com reported.
The fundraising effort includes plans for a Deep Tech Hub providing students access to advanced facilities and leveraging IIT Kanpur’s incubator, SIIC, which has supported 571 startups. The Foundation pillar aims to raise ₹5,000 crore for research infrastructure, including a ₹524 crore Central Research Facility with advanced equipment and a ₹160 crore semiconductor and device processing center. This campaign marks a significant push to enhance India’s research and innovation capabilities, according to livemint.com.
The Gautam School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will begin operations in July 2027, with the campaign targeting full fundraising by March 2029. The ₹4,155 crore already secured demonstrates strong backing from diverse stakeholders, positioning IIT Kanpur to expand its research and entrepreneurial impact significantly, per livemint.com.