Kanpur, U.P. 23rd October 2019: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has partnered with NTT DATA Services, a recognized leader in global technology services, to support and encourage entrepreneurship among recent graduates who are working on path-breaking technologies with socioeconomic impact in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, energy, water & sanitation, and education. NTT DATA Services has committed financial support to IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Center (SIIC).

SIIC was established in 2000 in collaboration with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to foster innovation, research and entrepreneurial activities in technology related areas. It will oversee and manage the IIT Kanpur Innovation Fellowship Program, which leverages SIIC’s experience as one of the most successful technology business incubators in the country for almost two decades to promote a culture of innovation among recent graduates.

NTT DATA has a long-standing commitment to leveraging IT innovations and global activities to contribute to a more prosperous and sustainable society. This corporate mission inspires a rich and diverse set of social programs to improve local and global communities through forward-thinking educational, technological and economic philanthropy. NTT DATA will continue to leverage technology to help advance research in academic disciplines that help solve human, social and environmental challenges around the world.

Commenting on the association during the agreement-signing ceremony, Dr. Harsh Vinayak, Senior Vice President, BPO, R&D & Global Business Shared Services at NTT DATA Services said, “It is our belief that technology innovation can dramatically improve some of the socioeconomic problems that our country faces today. Such initiatives will help reimagine and reshape the world to solve problems for the real India. We are extremely happy to reinforce our commitment to SIIC through our social program and this partnership with IIT Kanpur.”

Neeraj Jaitley, NTT DATA Services Senior Vice President, was also present during the agreement signing ceremony, which was presided by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur. The agreement was executed by Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Professor-in-charge, Innovation and Incubation, IIT Kanpur, and Dr. Vinayak.