IIT Ropar startup-driven PhD
IIT Ropar has introduced a Product/Startup-Driven PhD pathway that places products, patents, technology transfer and startups at the centre of doctoral research. Under the new model, scholars do not have to rely solely on a lengthy conventional written thesis.
The programme document says a PhD will be awarded on the basis of research outcomes linked to creating, developing and scaling products or startups. The stated routes include patenting an invention, building a startup and transferring technology to an existing company.
The pathway is intended to help scholars work on real-world industry problems. Existing companies including Tata, Reliance and Honda are mentioned in the context of potential technology transfer and product development.
IIT Ropar’s innovation ecosystem offers facilities, technical assistance, mentors and access to investors. Its incubation programme typically runs for two years, after which a startup has to graduate and move out.
Professor Rajeev Ahuja, the institute’s director, said investor meetings are held at least once every quarter. IIT Ropar may take between 2% and 4% equity in startups it supports.
Ahuja said a scholar under the new model “does not need to write any PhD thesis”. He also described a target in which a student develops a product, earns Rs 10 lakh from it and presents it to the institute to qualify for a PhD.
According to Ahuja, pressure to produce research papers can, in some cases, encourage data manipulation and plagiarism, eventually leading to retractions. The new pathway is intended to place the product, patent or startup at the centre of the research outcome.
India awarded 31,383 PhDs in 2022-23, according to Ministry of Education AISHE data. IIT Ropar says no other IIT is currently offering a similar programme. BITS Pilani’s WHILSP programme is cited as a comparable pathway.
China has also introduced a route under which selected doctoral candidates can graduate on the strength of a practical achievement.
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