IIM-A raises Rs 20 cr through corporate partnerships

After raising initial financial support worth Rs 16 crore from corporate and government institutions, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), has now raised a second round of funding amounting to Rs 20 crore through corporate partnerships.

The institute has tied up with the likes of Crisil, ATS Infra, SAP and World Gold Council (WGC) through different initiatives, including various research chairs for raising Rs 20 crore, which IIM-A will be spending towards research in financial markets, infrastructure and entrepreneurship.

Ashish Nanda, director, IIM-A, said, “I am thankful to Crisil and ATS Infra for establishing chairs in Financial Markets and Infrastructure respectively. SAP’s desire to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship is in line with IIMA’s long-term goals, and we are delighted to partner with them. The contribution of these companies will help the institute to strengthen its impact and maintain its quality. As we continue to connect with practice, I am confident the institute will benefit from access to current management practices and challenges; and also support for high-quality research.”

Through the SAP Faculty Fellow at IIMA, SAP India will be supporting entrepreneurship and innovation as part of its CSR initiative which has been instrumental in accelerating the growth of social enterprises through their capacity building, mentorship, and technology donation.

“The entrepreneurial ecosystem is a tremendous generator of employment and innovation and a substantial contributor to GDP growth. Through the Faculty Fellow at IIM-A and the associated incubation cell, SAP aims to create a knowledge base that will help policy makers, administrators and other constituents of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to work in a collaborative way to enable high-growth social enterprises, emerging startups, micro small and medium enterprises and small and medium businesses,” said Ravi Chauhan, managing director, SAP India.

Crisil has announced the setting up of a chair in financial markets to support research and learning in the area of financial markets at IIM-A. According to Roopa Kudva, managing director and CEO, Crisil, “The setting up of the Crisil Chair of Financial Markets will fuel insightful research that can help investors, market intermediaries and other stake-holders make better informed investment and business decisions.”

Another research chair being set up at IIM-A is in the area of infrastructure management by ATS Group of Companies. The 'ATS Infrastructure Chair of Infrastructure Management' is being set up to support research and learning in the area of infrastructure development and housing management.

“Good infrastructure acts as a catalyst in a developing economy. Implementing latest technology in this field as available within and outside India has become imperative now. ATS Infrastructure Ltd, which is in the field of construction and housing in north India is pleased to establish 'ATS Infrastructure Chair' at IIM-A for research and learning in the area of infrastructure & housing management, given the prime minister’s plan of providing housing for all by 2022,” said Getamber Anand, chairman and managing director, ATS Group of Companies.

Earlier on November 26, The World Gold Council had also announced setting up of the India Gold Policy Centre in collaboration with IIM-A. The objective of the 'India Gold Policy Centre' is to develop insights into how the significant stocks of gold that India owns can be used to advance growth, employment, social inclusion and economic wealth of the nation. The Centre aims to conduct research that has a practical application and that the industry and stakeholders can use, leading to the development of an effective gold ecosystem in the country and worldwide.

In June this year, the institute had announced raising of Rs 16 crore worth financial support for research and awarding of scholarships from corporate and government institutions, most of which are represented by its alumni.

Of the Rs 16 crore, Rs 14 crore came directly from alumni while the remaining Rs 2 crore was from non-alumni contributors.   Among the research to be undertaken through the fund contribution included several research chairs such as Professional Chair in Strategic Management (sponsored by ICICI Bank), Chair in Finance & Economics (RBI), Innovation and Public Policy Chair (JSW), and Chair in Agribusiness (NABARD).