BITS Pilani has announced the launch of an innovative PhD Program that would result in creation of a startup based on research done during the PhD. The program will focus on creation of deep tech and deep science startup ventures, that will solve some of the most critical societal and business challenges. This is keeping in line with BITS Pilani’s history of introducing innovations in the higher education space over the past 60 Years, be it the Practice School concept, the first ever dual-degree programs or newer pedagogical practices.
The admission for this program will be round the year and notifications for the program shall be posted on BITS website and its social media channels. BITS Pilani is leveraging its strong alumni network and corporate partners for funding and mentorship support.
The new program, to be called as PhD-DRIVE, short for Deep-tech Research, Innovation, Value generation & Entrepreneurship, will admit students with expertise in technology and science, and a clear intent to set up a startup. The program will include courses in entrepreneurship, incubation program, funding for building a solution or product, and most of all, access to BITS alumni network for further investments.
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani said, “The world requires our best researchers and academics to put their innovative research to use in solving the biggest challenges facing humanity. As a country, we haven’t done enough in the area of Deep Technology and Deep Science ventures, where a startup takes a long time to become viable. With this new program, we want PhD scholars to become an entrepreneur along with becoming an innovator, and not just look at an academic career post their PhDs”. Goal will be to incubate 100 startups through this program by 2030, said Prof. Rao. BITS Pilani alumni have created over 7400 startups of value all over the world so far including 13 unicorns and a decacorn.
Rajaram adds, “shaping holistic founders who understand technology and business will be a critical link for the current decade of India Deep Tech to be successful. Having invested in multiple deeptech startups at the early stage including those in spacetech, electric mobility, batteries, robotics, semiconductors amongst others, we look forward to playing an active role in helping PhD students ideate, build, iterate and commercialize innovations that have a large-scale impact on India and the world.”
The scholars will be working in various Centre of Excellences that BITS has already set up in the areas of Semiconductors, Bio-Cyber Physical Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Medical Diagnostics and Infectious Diseases, amongst others. The scholars would be supported through a much higher stipend, and would be provided a prototyping grant during the program.
