The Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has raised R20 crore in the last six months through corporate tie-ups, which will be used to carry out research on financial markets, infrastructure and entrepreneurship. This is the second tranche of fundraising efforts this year by the premier business school of India.
“We want to carry out high-quality research and the corporates have contributed significant money as well as access to data for research purpose. The contribution by these companies will help the institute to strengthen its impact and maintain quality. As we continue to connect with practice, I am confident the institute will benefit from access to current management practices and challenges,” said Professor Ashish Nanda, director of IIM-A.
Credit rating agency CRISIL and ATS Infra have given funds for establishing chairs ((research initiatives faculty)) in financial markets and infrastructure, respectively. SAP, which will also establish a chair, has partnered with the desire to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship, which is in line with IIM-A’s long-term goals.
The three corporates have contributed R1.50 crore for their term chairs of five years.
“CRISIL would like to make markets function better and tie-up with the institute is the first step of collaborations between the industry and academia,” said Raman Uberoi, president, corporate affairs, CRISIL.
Speaking on the need to encourage entrepreneurship, Ravi Chauhan, MD of SAP India, said: “Through the Faculty Fellow at IIM-A and the associated incubation cell, SAP aims to create a knowledge base that will significantly help policymakers, administrators and other constituents.”
These funds will provide explicit support to faculties carrying out research activities in terms of getting resources, collecting data and hiring research assistants, among other things.