Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan recently reaffirmed his commitment to advancing scientific research and deep technology in India. Accordingly, he has made significant investments in brain research at the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at IISc and the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) at IIT Madras. Additionally, he supports research at NCBS Bangalore and IIT Gandhinagar.
Beyond funding research institutions, Gopalakrishnan is also engaged with NMICPS at India DST, an initiative focused on fostering innovation through mission-driven programs. His backing extends to deep tech startups, strengthening India’s position in cutting-edge technological advancements.
“Invested in supporting brain research at @CBR_IISc and SGBC @iitmadras. Support research at @NCBS_Bangalore @iitgn. Spend time with NMICPS @IndiaDST. Support some #deeptech startups,” Gopalakrishnan stated.
His initial 10-year grant of INR 225 crore in 2014 to set up the CBR at IISc was a significant move, aimed at accelerating research on neurodegenerative diseases affecting the elderly. Recently, he extended his support with an additional grant of INR 450 crore over the next decade, reinforcing his commitment to this cause. This makes him the biggest individual private donor at IISc.
Support for Deep Tech
Gopalakrishnan’s involvement with brain research is not new. Since his retirement from Infosys in 2014, where he served as CEO among other roles, he has been a pivotal figure in the philanthropy landscape, particularly in the field of brain science.
The CBR focuses on studying neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, aiming to improve the quality of life for older adults through new treatments and interventions. With India’s elderly population expected to grow significantly, Gopalakrishnan’s initiatives look to tackle the impending healthcare challenges related to ageing.
Gopalakrishnan, continues to focus and hopes to position India among the top five countries globally for high-quality research.
In addition to his focus on brain research, Gopalakrishnan also supports deep tech startups, aligning with his role as Chairman of Axilor Ventures, which has been instrumental in nurturing innovative startups. “Support some #deeptech startups,” he said.
Amid ongoing discussions on Project Stargate and whether India should build its own state-of-the-art (SOTA) models, Gopalakrishnan has advocated in favor of it. “We need to build our own foundation models. Culture, strategic autonomy, etc.” he said.
Gopalakrishnan’s works have brought other industry leaders to voice their opinions in supporting research and building in India. Gaurav Aggarwal, who leads AI/ML initiatives at Jio, applauded Goaplakrishnan’s efforts.
“Kris is beyond amazing. Fortunate, to have the opportunity to interact with him many times, we just need many more clones of him to uplift India,” he said.
Funding for deep tech research startups in India has been slowly accelerating since 2019. In 2023, deep tech startups raised $10 Bn in funding and the number is expected to rise.
Encouraging Science
In November last year, The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) announced the winners of the Infosys Prize 2024 in six categories, celebrating outstanding research and scholarship that significantly impacts India. With a prize of $100,000, a gold medal, and a citation for each category, the awards highlighted a new focus on recognizing researchers under 40 to encourage early acknowledgment of exceptional talent.
Interestingly, the Infosys Prize, now in its 16th year, has introduced new eligibility criteria, recognising researchers under 40 to emphasise early recognition of exceptional talent.
Additionally, international winners will now spend a month at Indian institutions of their choice under the newly launched Infosys Prize Residency program, announced Gopalakrishnan.
