Prof. Debabrata Das appointed as the new Director of IIIT-B

Prof. Sadagopan to step down after 22 years at the helm

Prof. Debabrata Das appointed as the new Director of IIIT-B

Bengaluru, January 07, 2021: The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT Bangalore), today, announced that Prof Debabrata Das, has been appointed as the Director of the Institute effective June 30, 2021; a role currently held by Professor S Sadagopan. With 21 years of professional experience, Prof Debabrata Das joined IIIT-B as an Assistant Professor in 2002 and grew to the role of Professor. Professor Das has also acquired administrative experience while working as the Dean of Academics and R&D from 2014 to 2017. In this new role, he will work closely with IIIT-B’s faculty, Board of Directors and the larger set of stakeholders to further the Institute’s teaching & research, facilitate student and faculty exchange, as well as enable delivery of innovations in partnership with India’s leading organisations.

Prof Das was selected by a Search cum Selection committee constituted by the Governing Body of IIIT-B after taking into account his consistency in achievements, expertise and experience with a proven track record in the areas of academia, administration and industry connect. He will be responsible for supervision, management, and control of affairs at the Institute. In addition to this, his focus will be on bringing together best-in-class research teams, driving partnerships with the Government and industry, as well as enhancing IIIT-B’s international presence. He will take on his responsibilities as Director Designate from April 2021 under Professor Sadagopan’s guidance to facilitate smooth transition of responsibilities.

“It’s an honour to be leading a reputed institution like IIIT-B. This is a challenging time with respect to the fast-changing technology in the areas of computing, electronics and communication, as well as societal needs. I am looking forward to working closely with the students, my colleagues in the Institute, peers, industry, government, and industry bodies. Professor Sadagopan has raised IIIT-B to a place of eminence in the realm of higher education and technology in the country. While I know that I have a tall task as his successor, I am excited with this opportunity to build upon the great work done till now and take the institute to greater heights,” said Professor Das.

Speaking about the appointment, Professor Sadagopan, Director, IIIT-B, said, "Educational institutions such as ours, pave the way for future generations to continue their innovative aspirations. It is important to recognise and give the podium to individuals who can lead the Institute through diverse academic pursuits. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Professor Das to this role. He has mentored a large number of PhD students over the years, some of whose contributions have been part of 4G LTE standards. With his diverse academic experiences as Dean of Academics and R&D, I believe he can bring a whole new direction to encouraging our students to think beyond what classrooms have to offer. From taking on advanced projects in the telecommunications domain to growing our student size and strengthening alliances with International Universities to creating a conducive environment where innovation can thrive, I am confident Prof Das will be able to make immense contributions to IIIT-B’s journey in the coming years.”

During his tenure with IIIT-B as Director, Professor Sadagopan has led several key initiatives including the setting up of MIIIT (Myanmar International Institute of Information Technology, Mandalay) where IIIT-B built up from scratch, a full-fledged institute on the lines of IIIT in Bengaluru, sponsored by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Government of Myanmar. He has also led a transformational project, a digital identity project - Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), which will be an open source version of the equivalent of Aadhaar. This will be initially going live in Morocco and Philippines, with many other countries expected to follow soon.

Sharing his thoughts about the leadership change, Mr Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIIT-B said, “IIIT-B has a strong 20-year legacy of pioneering innovations in the Indian technology ecosystem, enabling cutting-edge research and development by working with leading organisations across the globe, to deliver value to society. Over the years, it has emerged as one of India's most reputed academic institutions, combining the processes, checks and balances of a government institution with the agility and efficiency of a private institution. It goes without saying that during his long-standing association with IIIT-B, Professor Sadagopan has played a monumental role in the Institute's success. We wish him all success for the future. I am confident that Dr Debabrata Das will be able to strengthen our legacy and lead us to scale newer heights."

About IIIT-B

IIIT Bangalore is a premier institute focused on Post-Graduate IT education and research, located in the heart of Electronic City, Bangalore. It contains state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class faculty, a vibrant alumni community, cutting-edge research facilities and close industry collaborations.

The institute’s specially designed courses make the students cognitive of the current technologies and practices, thereby equipping them with the tools and knowledge to solve contemporary real problems. Since the founding of the Institute in 1999, IIIT-B has enjoyed 100% placement every year, on account of the strong support of the Industry and the growing base of talented alumni.

https://www.iiitb.ac.in/