DALLAS, Texas (Diya TV) — Indian American entrepreneur and venture capitalist Anurag Jain has pledged $1 million to BITS Pilani to support advanced materials research and innovation at its Goa campus.
Jain, a BITS Pilani alumnus, will fund the Anurag Jain Materials Research and Innovation Center of Excellence. The new facility will operate as the AMRIT Center at the BITS Pilani Goa Campus. It will focus on advanced materials, technology development, and industry partnerships.
The center aims to strengthen India’s ability to develop key materials and technologies. These areas include batteries, hydrogen systems, semiconductors, sensors, and solar technologies. The work could also support industries that rely on new materials and energy technologies.
V. Ramgopal Rao, group vice chancellor of the BITS Pilani campuses and former director of IIT Delhi, announced the contribution. He said India needs stronger domestic capabilities in advanced materials.
“Advanced materials are at the heart of batteries, hydrogen technologies, semiconductors, sensors, photovoltaics and many other areas that will shape our future,” Rao said. He added that India cannot continue to depend heavily on imported materials and technologies.
The AMRIT Center will combine research with efforts to bring new technologies to the market. BITS Pilani plans to move beyond academic research and focus on practical applications.
The center will seek to create intellectual property and work with companies. It will also help move promising technologies from laboratories into commercial use. In addition, the facility will train researchers in advanced materials and related fields.
Rao said Jain’s contribution reflects a larger goal for BITS Pilani. He said Jain wants the institution to develop a globally recognized research center that can strengthen India’s technology capabilities.
Jain graduated from BITS Pilani in 1992 with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical and electronics engineering. He has since built a career across technology, health care services, and venture capital.
Jain serves as chairman and founder of Access Healthcare, a global health care services company. He also co-founded Perot Jain, a Dallas-based venture capital firm. The firm invests in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and computer vision.
Before launching his current ventures, Jain served as president of Perot Systems and Dell Services. His career has included leadership roles in technology and business development.
Jain has also supported several community and nonprofit initiatives. He serves as chairman emeritus of the North Texas Food Bank. He also co-founded Get Shift Done, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteers with community needs.
Jain and Ross Perot Jr. also hold majority ownership of the Texas Super Kings, a team in Major League Cricket.
The $1 million gift adds to Jain’s previous support for BITS Pilani. He earlier contributed to the BITS Perot Jain Centre for Advancement in Entrepreneurship with Perot Jr. The center supports entrepreneurship and innovation among students and researchers.
BITS Pilani has also recognized Jain for his contributions. He received the BITS Distinguished Alumnus Award for his entrepreneurial leadership and contributions to society.
The new AMRIT Center could expand BITS Pilani’s role in advanced materials research. It will also give students and researchers opportunities to work on technologies with potential commercial applications.
For India, the initiative comes as industries seek stronger domestic research and development capabilities. Advanced materials play an important role in clean energy, electronics, transportation and other growing sectors.
Jain’s gift therefore combines philanthropy with a focus on technology and innovation. Through the AMRIT Center, BITS Pilani aims to connect research, industry and entrepreneurship while preparing researchers for future technology challenges.
