In a landmark move to position India as a global leader in biosciences, bioengineering, healthcare, and medicine, the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, IIT Bombay, and the Wadhwani Charitable Foundation (WCF) announced the creation of two transformative new initiatives: the Wadhwani Hub for Biosciences, Bioengineering, Healthcare and Medicine and the Wadhwani Innovation and Translation Centre (WITC) at IIT Bombay.

The announcement, made at the YUGM Innovation Conclave held at Bharat Mandapam, was accompanied by a strong endorsement from PM Modi, who praised IIT Bombay’s Distinguished Alumnus and Founder of WCF, Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, for his remarkable journey from adversity to success and his deep commitment to India’s innovation and education ecosystem.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by IIT Bombay and WCF lays the foundation for a world-class ecosystem integrating graduate education, research, innovation, and real-world applications. With a philanthropic commitment of $12 million by the Wadhwani Charitable Foundation, the initiative will be anchored by a new 120,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art building, expected to be completed by December 2026. The Hub will focus on strengthening high-quality M.Tech. and PhD programmes, advancing cutting-edge research, and fostering interdisciplinary solutions for pressing challenges in healthcare and medicine.

The Wadhwani Hub will house multiple specialized centres, including those focused on biosciences, healthcare systems, and medical technologies, each incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning into its research framework. Within the Hub, the Wadhwani Innovation and Translation Centre (WITC) will accelerate the journey from lab to market. It will focus on translational research, startup incubation, and commercialization, serving as a national catalyst for converting scientific breakthroughs into impactful solutions.

This new initiative builds on the Wadhwani Foundation’s earlier support for translation in biosciences through the Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering (WRCB), reinforcing a decade-long commitment to impactful research and innovation at IIT Bombay.

IIT Bombay’s faculty are already engaged in stellar research across biosciences, healthcare, and bioengineering. The Wadhwani Hub and WITC will build on this foundation, enabling deeper collaboration with industry and scaling up innovations that can transform healthcare outcomes nationally and globally.

Sharing his vision for the initiative, Dr. Wadhwani said, “I’m grateful to PM Modi for his generous words and belief in India’s innovation potential. The Wadhwani Hub and WITC at IIT Bombay will help make India a global leader in biosciences and healthcare while driving meaningful socio-economic progress. Together, we aim to improve quality of life through innovation-led economic development, job creation, skill-building, entrepreneurial support, and impact-driven research that serves the public good.”

Dr. Wadhwani’s vision has been carried forward with equal commitment by Dr. Ajay Kela, President and CEO of the Wadhwani Foundation, who has played a pivotal role in shaping the Foundation’s global mission. Under his leadership, its entrepreneurship and skilling initiatives have scaled to over 20 countries, bringing lasting socio-economic impact worldwide.

Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, concurred with Dr. Wadhwani and emphasized the significance of this collaboration. He said, “We thank PM Modi for championing the Wadhwani Hub. His support reflects a deep commitment to a self-reliant India. This initiative will not only strengthen our research and academic ecosystem but also catalyse innovation and entrepreneurship in critical sectors of national importance. We are honoured to partner with the Wadhwani Charitable Foundation on this transformative journey.”

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to excellence: While the Wadhwani Charitable Foundation’s philanthropic investment sets the foundation for the Hub, IIT Bombay is equally committed, financially and institutionally, to its long-term success. Together, they envision a Centre of Excellence that blends research, education, and innovation to generate high-impact solutions for India and the world.