IIT Ropar Recognized as a Centre of Excellence in AI & Advanced Research by the Ministry of Education
Emerging as a Centre of Excellence Driving India’s Technology-Driven Future
The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) has been spotlighted by the Ministry of Education,
Government of India, as a leading Centre of Excellence in Advanced Research, Artificial Intelligence
Innovation and Student Entrepreneurship. This recognition reaffirms IIT Ropar’s growing reputation as one
of India’s most dynamic and forward-looking IITs — a place where ideas meet impact and innovation drives
inclusion.
Faculty Excellence at the Forefront of Discovery-
IIT Ropar’s vibrant research culture is powered by its outstanding faculty, whose achievements continue to
bring global recognition to the institute:
Dr. Shweta Jain, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering — awarded
the Google Research Award 2024 with a USD 20,000 unrestricted grant.
Dr. Anupam Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry — honoured with the
IPS Young Scientist Award 2025.
Dr. Soumyajit Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry — recipient of the Thieme
Chemistry Journals Award 2025.
Dr. Durba Pal, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering — recognized under
“Women in Immunology” by the Indian Immunological Society on the International Day for Women
and Girls in Science.
Driving Agri-Tech and AI Innovation for Bharat-
Through the Technology and Innovation Foundation – iHub AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology
Development Hub), IIT Ropar is addressing national priorities in Agriculture & Allied Sectors, Human
Skilling, Technology Development, and Startup Growth.
Strengthening its Agri-Tech leadership further, IIT Ropar has been designated as the Centre of Excellence in
AI for Agriculture (Annam AI) under the Ministry of Education’s ₹300 Crore national initiative. This project
integrates Artificial Intelligence to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and resilience —
empowering farmers and transforming rural innovation ecosystems.
“This recognition as a Centre of Excellence reflects IIT Ropar’s commitment to advancing technologies that
directly serve our Nation’s priorities. Through initiatives such as the the newly established Annam AI — the
Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture and iHub AWaDH— we are creating scalable,
AI-driven solutions to empower farmers, optimize resource use and strengthen India’s agri-tech ecosystem.
These programs embody IIT Ropar’s vision of research with impact — where innovation meets inclusion
and technology transforms lives.”
Dr. Pushpendra Pal Singh, Dean (Corporate, Alumni, Placement and Strategies) and Project Director,
iHub AWaDH
Fueling Student Entrepreneurship and Startup Growth-
Innovation thrives at IIT Ropar not only in research labs but also in entrepreneurial ventures.
Through the Technology Business Incubator Foundation (TBIF), the institute hosted its first E-Summit,
showcasing the creativity and drive of young innovators. A standout success story emerged from a TBIFincubated
startup — an AI-based recruitment platform founded by B.Tech students Deepanshu Sharma and
Kartik Yadav — which recently secured ₹3.5 Crore in funding. Their journey reflects IIT Ropar’s supportive
ecosystem for students translating ideas into impactful enterprises.
A Destination for Future Researchers-
With world-class infrastructure, globally recognized faculty, and an interdisciplinary research culture, IIT
Ropar is fast becoming a preferred destination for PhD scholars and researchers seeking to explore frontier
areas in AI, Clean Energy, Advanced Materials, Biomedical Sciences, and Agricultural Technologies. The
institute’s academic environment encourages collaborative innovation, industry partnerships, and societal
impact — offering scholars the perfect platform to transform research into real-world solutions.
About Indian Institute of Technology Ropar-
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) is a national Institute of higher education and research
established in 2008 and located in Rupnagar (Ropar), Punjab. The Institute offers undergraduate,
postgraduate and doctoral programmes across core and interdisciplinary engineering, science and technology
areas and operates from a modern permanent campus with extensive research laboratories and learning
facilities. IIT Ropar actively pursues industry-facing research, technology development and translation
through its R&D centres, Technology Business Incubator (TBI), IPR cell and national research initiatives,
partnering with government and industry to deliver training, validation and consultancy. Under strong
academic leadership, the Institute focuses on building applied capabilities that support India’s infrastructure,
energy transition and innovation goals. For more information, visit: www.iitrpr.ac.in
