Faculty excellence and innovation drive IIT Ropar’s rise in technology and Agri-tech

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has been emerging as one of the leading centres of excellence in advanced research, artificial intelligence (AI), and student entrepreneurship, marking its growing contribution to India’s technology-driven future.The director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar is Prof. Rajeev Ahuja , and the institute was established in 2008.

Several notable faculty achievements have recently placed the institute in the spotlight for academic and research excellence. Dr. Shweta Jain, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, was honoured with the Google Research Award 2024, which carries an unrestricted grant of USD 20,000. Dr. Anupam Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Indian Photochemistry Society (IPS) Young Scientist Award 2025, while Dr. Soumyajit Das, also from the Department of Chemistry, was conferred the Thieme Chemistry Journals Award 2025. In the field of biomedical sciences, Dr. Durba Pal, Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, was recognized under the “Women in Immunology” initiative by the Indian Immunological Society on the International Day for Women and Girls in Science.

The institute’s Technology and Innovation Foundation – iHub AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) has been playing a pivotal role in strengthening India’s priorities in agriculture and allied sectors, human skilling, and technology development. IIT Ropar has also been designated as the Centre of Excellence in AI for Agriculture, named “Annam AI,” under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The initiative, supported by a ₹300-crore project, aims to integrate AI technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability across the country.

In addition to its research accomplishments, IIT Ropar has been actively fostering a startup ecosystem — a network of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and innovation platforms that enable the creation and growth of new businesses. The institute’s Technology Business Incubator Foundation (TBIF) has been at the centre of these efforts, hosting the first-ever E-Summit at IIT Ropar to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among students.

Among the incubated ventures, a student-led AI-based recruitment platform, founded by B.Tech students Deepanshu Sharma and Kartik Yadav, has attracted ₹3.5 crore in external funding, according to the institute’s official statement. The investors’ names and further details about the startup have not yet been publicly disclosed. The venture has been incubated under TBIF, which continues to support multiple student-founded startups through mentoring, seed funding access, and industry linkages. Several startups have emerged from the alumni community of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar. One notable example is EaseCruit, an AI-based recruitment platform that has successfully secured funding. Another venture is Cozilla, a startup in the technology space that has since been acquired. In the clean technology sector, Yotuh Energy focuses on providing innovative cold chain solutions. Additionally, the food and agriculture sector is represented by SS Dehydrated Foods and Technologies.Further diversifying the portfolio of alumni startups are companies like AeroDome Technologies, which operates in the aviation and drone space, and Sahfe Technologies, which provides AI-powered solutions for the retail industry. The growing electric mobility sector features MOOEV Technologies Pvt Ltd, focused on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Other ventures include Faable, a startup in the technology, information, and media sphere, and Raaz App, a health-tech initiative.Many of these enterprises receive crucial support and incubation through the institute's own Technology Business Incubator Foundation (TBIF) initiative that actively foster a vibrant ecosystem for student and alumni entrepreneurship and innovation at IIT Ropar.

By achieving excellence in research, technology innovation, and entrepreneurship, IIT Ropar has been positioning itself as a key national institution contributing to India’s scientific advancement and innovation-led growth. The institute’s expanding ecosystem of faculty achievements, AI-driven research, and student entrepreneurship has been viewed as a model of how academia can bridge the gap between innovation and impact.