Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani donates Rs 315 cr to alma mater IIT-Bombay

The donation aims to support the institute's vision of becoming a global leader in technology and engineering.

Nilekani signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Professor Subhasis Chaudhuri, the Director of IIT-B, in Bengaluru to formalize the donation.

This contribution, along with his previous grants of Rs 85 crore, brings the total value of his contributions to Rs 400 crore.

The initial grant of Rs 85 crore has already been used for various purposes, including the construction of new hostels, co-financing the School of Information Technology, and establishing India's first university incubator, which has played a significant role in fostering the country's startup ecosystem.

The recent donation of Rs 315 crore will play a crucial role in enhancing infrastructure, promoting research in emerging areas of engineering and technology, and nurturing a thriving deep-tech startup ecosystem at IIT-B, according to the official statement.

This donation marks a remarkable 50-year association between Nilekani and IIT-B, beginning when he joined the institute in 1973 to pursue a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. It is also one of the largest contributions made by an alumnus in India.

Throughout the years, Nilekani has maintained strong ties with the institute, serving in multiple roles.

He was a member of the Board of the IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation from 1999 to 2009 and served on the Board of Governors from 2005 to 2011.

Nilekani received the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999 and was honored with an Honorary Doctorate in 2019 during the institute's 57th convocation.