New IIITs to reap benefits from multiple industry partners
The HRD ministry committee headed by ex-Infosys’ Mohandas Pai will set up 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) which will operate on a Public-Private-Partnership scheme. This scheme will see Top IT companies like Infosys and Wipro partnering with the government to run next-generation technical institutions in India. Multiple partners will be chosen for the IIITs to allow each IIIT to have very broad and inter-disciplinary focus in research. It is improbable that one single private partner will have deep domain competencies in all the areas that IIITs will focus on. This committee also proposed roping in non-IT companies, for example manufacturing companies, as partners where there is a demonstrated use of IT.
These 20 IIITs will be set up on a similar model as the IITs over a nine-year period starting 2011-12. Each of these set ups are to cost Rs. 128 crore each, with the Centre, State and the industry contributing in 50:35:15 ratio.
Focusing on increasing the synergy between the academic institute and the partnering companies, the panel has proposed deputing accomplished individuals from the companies as adjunct faculty. Further to create a long-term commitment to the institute, industry partners would have to make a minimum contribution of Rs. 2 crore. Further, the same industry partner may fund multiple IIITs and alternatively the IIITs are also free to work with more than one partner, depending on the need. Students in these institutes will stand to gain as they will be allowed to intern at the company and also take up joint research projects. Care would be taken to ensure there are “fair and equitable” agreements for intellectual property jointly developed by the institute and the company.