Indian industry stalwarts to advise University of Cambridge

India News Bulletin Desk

A group of 24 senior Indian business leaders, government figures and academics including Ratan Tata, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Deepak Parekh and Sam Pitroda will guide and assist the research collaborations between Cambridge and Indian academics.

Cambridge University seeks advice from Indian stalwarts
Cambridge University seeks advice from Indian stalwarts
Image: Wikimedia Commons (Andreas Praefcke)

Cambridge’s current collaborations with India cover a wide range of disciplines including Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Education and the Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology and Business.

The group of Indian experts -- called the Circle of Advisors -- will aim to foster the establishment of new research collaborations between the UK and India and also to play an ambassadorial role in promoting the British university in India.

Engagement with India is a strategic priority for the University of Cambridge, working in partnership to tackle global challenges through research and education, according to the British High Commission’s office in New Delhi.

The university is already home to distinguished academics from India, including Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta (Economics), Professor Ashok Venkitaraman (Cancer Research), and Nobel laureate Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Molecular Biology). 

It has more than 1300 active alumni in India, with particular concentrations in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, and there are nine active alumni groups and societies in India.

The senior Indian figures will meet a delegation from the University of Cambridge, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, in Delhi in September.

“Our relationship is close and it is also very practical. There are many challenges that we can meet better together than separately.  The Circle of Advisors will ensure that our collaborations are as productive as possible for India and for Cambridge,” said Borysiewicz.

List of the 24 senior Indian leaders that will advise Cambridge University on Collaboration:

Professor Balram Bhargava
Department of Cardiology, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi

Lord (Karan) Bilimoria
Chairman, Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd

Professor Basudev Chatterji
Chairman, Indian Council of Historical Research

Mr Jitesh Gadhia
Senior Managing Director, Blackstone Advisory Partners

Dr Yusuf Hamied
Chairman, Cipla Ltd

Dr Ramesh Mashelkar
President, Global Research Alliance

Mr Ranjit Mathrani
Chairman, MW Eat Ltd

Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Ltd

Dr Arabinda Mitra
Head, International Cooperation Division, Dept of Science & Technology, Gov of India

Mr Sunil Mittal
Chairman and Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises

Mrs Zia Mody
Senior Partner, AZB & Partners

Mr Deepak Parekh
Chairman, Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd 

Mr Sam Pitroda
Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations 

Mr Leo Puri
Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Co (India) Inc 

Dr Baldev Raj
President, Indian National Academy of Engineering

Mr Ajit Rangnekar
Dean, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad 

Professor CNR Rao
Chair, Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India 

Professor K Srinath Reddy
President, Public Health Foundation of India 

Mr Alan Rosling
Chairman, Kiran Energy 

Dr Ratan Tata
Chairman, Tata Trusts 

Mr Ashok Thakur
Secretary, Dept of Higher Education, Government of India 

Professor Sukhadeo Thorat
Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science Research 

Lord (Rumi) Verjee
Chairman, Thomas Goode & Co 

Professor K VijayRhaghavan
Secretary, Dept of Biotechnology, Government of India 

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