We Will Nurture Excellence

IT-Ropar director Professor Rajeev Ahuja is one of the most highly cited researchers as well as one of the top materials scientists in Sweden and India.

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He is a Professor of Computational Materials Science primarily researching batteries, hydrogen storage and production, sensors, and high-pressure physics. He previously worked as Professor at Uppsala University in Sweden for more than 30 years. He also has more than 1,000 scientific publications in high-ranking international journals accumulating more than 41,000 citations.

Professor Ahuja talks about the growth trajectory of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the societal pressure faced by engineering students as well as his interesting research projects in an interaction with Parwinder Sandhu of The Statesman.

Q. Since your appointment as Director in April 2021, what have been your key priorities in steering IIT Ropar's growth?

A: My focus has been on transforming the institute into a globally recognized center for excellence in education, research, and innovation. We have strengthened our research ecosystem with major initiatives like ANNAM.AI and the PAIR grant, expanded industry linkages through collaborations with defence bodies and regulatory agencies, and launched forward-looking programmes such as a universal AI minor and new undergraduate degrees in Digital Agriculture and IC Technology.

These efforts are backed by a strong commitment to inclusivity, global engagement, and societal impact - reflected in our rise in international rankings and our initiatives in sustainability, community outreach, and regional development. Our journey has been one of purposeful growth, with education and research at its heart, serving both national needs and global challenges.

Q. How do you envision IIT Ropar's role in India's evolving higher education landscape, especially among the newer IITs?