The ongoing response to COVID-19 pandemic by researchers and start-ups at IIT Delhi to mitigate the many risks of the disease by developing and deploying Diagnostic Kits, PPEs, Masks etc. attests to the inherent strength of the institute to be able rise to any challenge. While such attributes are not captured by traditional ranking matrices, but they certainly resonate with national development missions.

The present global scenario has raised a spectre of numerous challenges wherein the country's emphasis on self-reliant India or Aatmnirbhar Bharat promises to bring out the best that we have to offer. It would catapult us in a league where we can be seen building a new and confident India.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, an institute of eminence, is eminently placed to lead such self-reliant efforts. It is already amongst the top 10 global institutes producing the most Unicorn founders. IIT Delhi also takes a leading position in the country about the number of startups created by its students and alumni and the total funds raised by these startups.

The institute has invested over Rs 350 Cr in the last few years to solve grand challenges by leveraging high-tech research facilities. IIT Delhi's academic community has been at the forefront of driving the institute's outreach and inclusive development through flagship programs like Unnat Bharat Abhiyan etc.

Prof Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi stated that: "Our goal at IIT Delhi is to produce more job providers rather than job seekers. Every second student at IIT Delhi is now dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur. The institute is supporting them in all possible ways. At least 10 initiatives we launched in the last 4 years are to support the entrepreneurship ecosystem on the campus. We are also helping our faculty to turn into entrepreneurs using the deep-tech research they carry out in their laboratories."

The upcoming Research & Innovation Park on the campus will enhance research translation and joint R&D with industry and support >100 startups at a time.

The institute aims to file over 200 patents per year from the year 2021. It currently files more than 150 patents in a year that is one patent for every 17 research publications.

IIT Delhi’s unique support programs towards innovation and entrepreneurship are laying the foundation for a giant leap into future.

“IIT Delhi is a dynamic entrepreneurial institute with strong emphasis on research and innovation for greater socio-economic impact”, said Dr. Anil Wali, MD, FITT, the institute's industry interface organisation that manages, inter alia, technology commercialisation, startup programs and Research Parks.