IIT Indore & Mehta Family Foundation partner to launch academic schools for sustainability & biomedical engineering

New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, with the generous support of the Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), has announced a landmark partnership to establish two new academic schools at the IIT Indore campus: Mehta Family School of Sustainability and Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering.

These new schools reflect IIT Indore’s commitment to advancing education and research in strategically critical areas such as sustainability, and health sciences & technology. The Mehta Family Foundation, by launching their 7th and 8th schools in the country, spread over an area of around two lakh sq. ft., further strengthens India’s leading higher education institutions to build futuristic academic programs. Together, IIT Indore and MFF aim to create world-class schools that will equip the next generation of leaders, researchers, and innovators with the interdisciplinary knowledge, practical skills, and research mindset to further enhance India’s technological prowess.

Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, said, “I have known Rahul Mehta since 2018, during my tenure as Director at IIT Kanpur. Over the past seven years, he has consistently supported the establishment of a new school every year, which is an extraordinary achievement in itself. The Mehta Family Foundation’s ability to identify thematic areas that closely mirror the government’s science and technology priorities is commendable. Such efforts strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem and contribute meaningfully to our long-term national goals in research and education.”

Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, said, “It’s inspiring to see the convergence of engineering and biology being harnessed to address future’s grand challenges. IITs are nurturing a vibrant biotech ecosystem, and the Mehta Family Foundation’s initiatives are adding significant momentum. Their long-term vision and clear scientific agendas align well with emerging national frameworks like the Bio-E3 policy. This kind of support helps industrialise innovation and ensures India continues to lead across key science and technology parameters globally.”

The Mehta Family School of Sustainability, a one-of-a-kind institution dedicated to climate-conscious innovation, leadership, and knowledge creation, is set to launch India’s first BTech program in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Engineering, creating a taskforce of more than 400 graduates and 1000+ professionals through Executive Master’s and PhD programs in the next decade. The School will also establish three dedicated Centres of Excellence in Energy Systems and Battery Technology, Environmental Economics and Environmental Law, and Water and Climate Studies to drive technology solutions and policy-shaping research.

The Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering is a pioneering academic and research hub at the intersection of Biology, Technology, Data, and AI. With a strong emphasis on developing data-driven solutions for endemics such as chikungunya and dengue, and addressing the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the School is poised to make a significant impact through interdisciplinary, translational research. Our programs span critical domains including AI in Healthcare and Bioinformatics, Drug Discovery, Molecular Biology, Biomanufacturing, and Wearable Health Technologies. The School also envisions establishing a cutting-edge biomanufacturing hub, while preparing over 1,500 students in the next decade to lead innovation across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical devices sectors.

Dr Suhas Joshi, Director of IIT Indore, noted, “This partnership with the Mehta Family Foundation represents the first single largest philanthropic contribution to IIT Indore and a transformative moment for the institute. MFF, along with its financial support, brings a deep network of academic expertise, industry leaders, and international collaborators. Together, we aim to set new benchmarks in interdisciplinary education and research that addresses critical societal issues.”

Rahul Mehta, Founder of the Mehta Family Foundation, said, “India’s future hinges on nurturing institutions that can create intellectual talent to address challenges such as climate resilience and innovative healthcare. IIT Indore, located at the heart of India, has all the right ingredients to nurture the next generation of talent capable of addressing both the nation’s immediate challenges and future aspirations. I am deeply impressed with the leadership and commitment of Prof. Suhas and his team. I am sure IIT Indore will emerge as a hub of interdisciplinary excellence in these new domains.”

The formal exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place in New Delhi in the presence of Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology; Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Mr. Rahul Mehta, Founder of the Mehta Family Foundation; Dr. Suhas Joshi, Director, IIT Indore;  Prof. Gobardhan Das, Director, IISER Bhopal; and Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, in the august presence of Prof. Shankar Subramaniam, University of California, San Diego; Prof. Ananth Y Grama, Purdue University; and Prof. Rajesh Gupta, University of California, San Diego, among other distinguished guests from the IIT academia.