$27 million gift to tech school from alumnus Dr. Krishna Chivukula

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has received the largest single donation in its history of over $27 million from its distinguished alumnus awardee Dr Krishna Chivukula , founder and CEO, Indo-MIM.

The institute has named an academic block after him: ‘Krishna Chivukula Block’.

In 1997, Dr. Krishna Chivukula brought to India a state-of-the-art engineering manufacturing technology called ‘Metal Injection Molding (MIM)’ while it was still an emerging technology in the US. Presently his company occupies the number one position in the world in MIM technology in terms of capacity and sales.

IIT Madras recognized his professional excellence and contributions to the community by conferring the ‘Distinguished Alumnus Award’ during 2015.

This donation will be utilised for multiple purposes including supporting international students to study at IIT Madras through a scholarship, research excellence grant programme, an UG Fellowship Program for freshers at IIT Madras, Sports Scholar Program, Shaastra Magazine development and the Krishna Chivukula Block Maintenance, among other activities.

The Office of Institutional Advancement, which is responsible for this outreach, is an initiative of the IIT Madras Alumni Charitable Trust.

Kaviraj Nair, CEO, Office of Institutional Advancement, IIT Madras said in a statement: “His contribution stands as a testament to his dedication to fostering excellence in education, research, and innovation. It not only elevates our institution but also serves as an example of how our alumni community continues to drive meaningful change.”

The total amount raised through alumni alone during 2023-24 showed an increase of 282% compared to the previous year. Their focus areas included cutting-edge research across various social impact themes, infrastructure, and scholarships for students, besides establishing Chair Professorships for research in specific areas.

This latest donation marks one of the largest ever made to an educational institution in India by an alumnus.

Last year, Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani donated $37.53 to his alma mater IIT Bombay, the largest donation made by an alumnus.