Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) is setting up a new Centre of Excellence in advanced materials at its Goa campus, backed by a $1 million seed funding gift from alumnus and entrepreneur Anurag Jain.
The AMRIT – Anurag Jain Materials Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence is being positioned as a research and commercialisation hub that will bring together researchers, students, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and international academic partners. The centre is expected to require multi-million-dollar investment over the coming years.
The initiative comes at a time when India is seeking to build domestic capabilities in critical minerals, semiconductors, clean energy and other strategic technology areas, increasing the importance of advanced materials across the industrial value chain.
From laboratory research to commercialisation
The centre will initially focus on two-dimensional and functional materials, with research aimed at applications spanning batteries and supercapacitors, hydrogen production and fuel cells, photovoltaics, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, semiconductors and sensors.
The broader objective is to address one of the key challenges facing deep-technology research — converting promising laboratory discoveries into commercially viable technologies that can be manufactured and deployed at scale.
“Advanced materials are foundational to many of the technologies India is seeking to build—from batteries and hydrogen systems to semiconductors and sensors,” said BITS Pilani, Vice-Chancellor Professor V. Ramgopal Rao.
“Too often, promising materials research remains confined to the laboratory. The AMRIT Center will pursue cutting-edge research with a clear path toward practical application, improved manufacturing processes, and commercialisation,” he said.
Linking research with strategic industries
The centre’s mandate will extend beyond fundamental research to technology translation, industry collaboration and intellectual-property development. It also plans to support the creation of materials-focused startups.
BITS Pilani said the centre will seek collaborations with universities, laboratories, companies and experts in India and overseas. Distinguished scientists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders are also expected to advise the centre on research priorities, partnerships and commercial impact.
The timing of the initiative is significant as government programmes including the National Critical Mineral Mission and Semicon India seek to strengthen India’s capabilities in strategically important technologies.
Advanced materials form an underlying layer across several of these sectors. Improvements in material performance, manufacturing processes and cost can influence the commercial viability of technologies ranging from energy storage and hydrogen to semiconductor devices.
Building a talent pipeline
The centre is also expected to have a strong education and talent-development component. BITS Pilani said it will provide researchers and students with access to advanced infrastructure, interdisciplinary research opportunities and global expertise.
The institution expects the initiative to train hundreds of researchers, engineers and specialists for careers in academia and industry.
“This investment will give future generations of engineers and scientists access to advanced infrastructure, interdisciplinary research opportunities, and global expertise,” said BITS Pilani, Dean of Alumni Relations Professor Arya Kumar.
From intellectual property to startups
Jain, who graduated from BITS Pilani in 1988, is chairman of Access Healthcare and co-founder and managing partner of Dallas-based venture capital firm Perot Jain, which invests in artificial intelligence, robotics and computer vision. He previously served as president of Perot Systems and Dell Services.
Jain said India has an opportunity to emerge as a global leader in advanced materials, but that this would require research capabilities, talent, industry partnerships and mechanisms to move discoveries into practical applications.
“Our ambition is for the AMRIT Center to bring these elements together – creating intellectual property, supporting new ventures, and developing technologies that strengthen India’s capabilities while addressing challenges of global importance,” said Anurag Jain.
For BITS Pilani, the centre represents an attempt to create a complete innovation pipeline, from materials research and talent development to intellectual property, industry partnerships, manufacturing and startup creation. Its longer-term impact will depend on how effectively that pipeline converts scientific breakthroughs into technologies capable of competing at commercial scale.