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The donation will establish the Agendra Kumar Fellowships Fund to support 10 PhD scholars over the next decade to advance research and nurturing future innovators.
The fellowship fund has been established by BITS Pilani alumnus Agendra Kumar. (File Photo)
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani has announced a donation of Rs 2.5 crore from Agendra Kumar, Managing Director of Esri India and distinguished alumnus from the Class of 1977. The donation will establish the Agendra Kumar Fellowships Fund to support 10 PhD scholars over the next decade to advance research and nurturing future innovators.
The fellowship fund established by alumnus Agendra Kumar will back impactful research aimed at addressing critical issues through technology and engineering solutions in areas such as climate and sustainability, healthcare and biotech, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, geospatial intelligence, water resource management, cancer research using computational methods, and precision agriculture, where BITS researchers can make a significant difference, the institute stated in a press release.
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said, “Agendra Kumar’s commitment reflects the finest tradition of BITSian giving – purposeful, forward-looking, and rooted in a genuine desire to see the institution grow. PhD research is the engine of long-term innovation, and fellowships of this kind make it possible for talented young researchers to pursue ideas that matter without being held back by financial constraints. We are deeply grateful to him for this generous and well-considered gift.”
Agendra Kumar said, “BITS Pilani gave me the foundation to build a career at the intersection of technology and real-world impact. Esri India’s work in geospatial intelligence has shown me, time and again, how research translates into solutions that change lives on the ground and create value. Through these fellowships, I hope to enable the next generation of researchers at BITS to do exactly that – work on problems that matter for India and do so with the freedom and support to think boldly.”
Prof. Arya Kumar, Dean Alumni Relations, said, “Agendra Kumar’s fellowship fund is a natural extension of his belief in the power of research to address real challenges. The focus areas he has chosen align closely with the nation’s most urgent priorities, and we are confident that the scholars supported through this fund will go on to make significant contributions by coming out with innovative solutions to critical problems.”
March 20, 2026, 16:06 IST
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