initiatives-facilitated-by-iimaef
1. Nykaa Chair in Consumer Technology at IIMA
The Indian consumer tech industry has seen significant investments and is expected to cross
US$200-250 bn by 2025.This industry needs focused research, assimilation of best practices, and
dissemination of those practices, as well as direction on how to use AI, ML, Data Science and IoT. To
explore these research themes, IIMA signed an Agreement with Nykaa to set up the ‘Nykaa Chair in
Consumer Technology’ yesterday.
We would like to thank our alumna Falguni Nayar and Nykaa for this valuable contribution to the
Institute. This Institute will continue to support cutting edge research in emerging areas of
importance.
2. Dr Lal Pathlabs Chair in Healthcare
Despite several detrimental consequences of COVID-19, the health care industry has been given a
significant opportunity to drive innovation and reinvent itself. The hospital industry in India has
increased to Rs. 8.6 trillion (US$ 132.84 billion) in FY22 from Rs. 4 trillion (US$ 61.79 billion) in FY17
at a CAGR of 16–17%, as per industry estimates. These developments open up several avenues of
research in healthcare sector.
IIMA has set up a Chair in healthcare so the Institute can undertake research activities and
demonstrate thought leadership in this fast growing and topical domain. In July 2022, IIMA signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Lal PathLabs Foundation – the CSR arm of Dr Lal PathLabs
to set up the ‘Dr Lal PathLabs Chair in Healthcare at IIMA'.
3. NIIF’s ESG Research Chair at IIMA, the first of its kind in India
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad set up the country's first research chair in ESG in
collaboration with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in February 2022 through
the efforts of IIMA Endowment Fund. NIIF is a collaborative investment platform for international
and Indian investors, anchored by the Government of India. I thank National Investment and
Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and Rajiv Dhar Dhar, CEO & MD at NIIF for their support and direction in
setting up this Research Chair at IIMA.
The ‘NIIF Chair in ESG at IIMA’ functions as the principal hub of knowledge and insights that allows businesses and policy makers to incorporate ESG principles in their long-term business and governance decisions. The Chair is currently held by Prof. Amit Garg; some of the key activities that the Chair will engage in are:
1. Benchmarking of ESG diligence across investments
2. Assessment of the requirements for aligning with nationally determined contributions (NDCs)
3. Study climate change risks on the asset valuation and reputation
4. Establish circularity in infrastructure development with focus on resource efficiency and pollution abatement
2. Assessment of the requirements for aligning with nationally determined contributions (NDCs)
3. Study climate change risks on the asset valuation and reputation
4. Establish circularity in infrastructure development with focus on resource efficiency and pollution abatement
This contribution will help fund the resources and related expenses for carrying out the activities in
mental health; under the guidance of the Institute. We are grateful to the Institute faculty and
administration for their support.
4. Arun Duggal Centre for ESG Research
The Arun Duggal Centre for ESG Research (CESGR) at IIMA has been set up to contribute to the
development of the nascent ESG ecosystem in India and help Indian enterprises and organizations
integrate ESG into their core business and investment decisions. In doing so, the Centre shall
contribute to the transition of businesses towards the future of capitalism defined by stakeholder
orientation with a focus on long-term enterprise value, shared societal prosperity, and a sustainable
relationship with the planet.
The incorporation of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance goals as one of the core
tenets of businesses across the globe was spurred in 2005 when the UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan rallied leading financial institutions of the world to evolve frameworks that embodied these
metrics. Today, investors around the globe use non-financial ESG metrics along with traditional
financial metrics to evaluate corporations, identify material risks and determine the future long-term
financial performance of companies.
5. Brij Disa Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
The Brij Disa Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (CDSA) at the Indian Institute of
Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) provides a common platform to faculty, scholars, and practitioners
for conducting and disseminating cutting-edge research on data analytics and artificial intelligence
that offers solutions applicable to business, governance, and policy.
Besides generating action oriented insights, CDSA is also responsible for dissemination of the
knowledge generated to a wider audience both within and outside the realm of the Institute.
Seminars, workshops, and conferences are regular activities at the Centre, which are conducted to
reach out to and engage with stakeholders.
The Centre aims to forge synergistic and collaborative relationships between scholars and
practitioners in dataintensive organizations, besides undertaking case-based research to understand
the current industry practice and develop case studies for classroom teaching.
6. Misra Centre for Financial Markets and Economy
Financial Markets play an important role in the Indian economy. The study and analysis of financial
markets require high quality data, research, and insights to engage in the debate and influence
policymakers, institutions, and other stakeholders. In this context, the Misra Centre for Financial
Markets and Economy, set up at IIMA, is a Centre of excellence, conducting research on the financial
markets and economy in India. This Centre provides the impetus for focused research, teaching, and
knowledge dissemination on contemporary issues related to financial markets within the overall
economic framework.
IIMA faculty members of the Misra Centre conduct research on a wide range of topics related to
financial markets and the economy.
7. IIMA Endowment Fund Announces 30 scholarships worth INR 2 Cr.
We are thrilled to announce the setting up of 30 new scholarships worth INR 2 crores at Indian
Institute of Management Ahmedabad; supported by the funds received from alumni and donors
towards the IIMA Endowment Fund. These merit cum means scholarships are for students from the
incoming Class of 2023-25 at IIMA. A total of 10 scholarships of INR 10 lakh each and 20 scholarships
of INR 5 lakh each will be awarded to students. We thank IIMAEF’s 18 Founders, Co-Founders and
Co-Founding Batch as well as all the contributors to the general corpus of the IIMA Endowment Fund
for their generosity.
At the IIMA Endowment Fund, we are consistently working with the Institute to support its future
growth; and we invite our alumni and corporate supporters to join us in this endeavour of helping
shape the future of IIMA. To know more about the work we do, click the link below to access
IIMAEF’s inaugural newsletter.
8. Centre for Management of Healthcare Services
The PGP 1994 Batch is supporting one of IIMA’s oldest Research Centres, the Centre of Management
of Health Services (CMHS), facilitated by IIMA Endowment Fund. To mark this, an MoU exchange
ceremony was organized between IIMA Director Prof Bharat Bhasker and the batch representatives
today during the inaugural session of the 1st edition of IIMA Healthcare Summit. We thank the PGP
1994 Batch for their generous support to the Institute.
This funding will help the Centre create a platform for advancing healthcare research, promoting
knowledge sharing and dissemination, and driving positive change in the healthcare sector. This
support towards the Centre shall help take the CMHS’s research and allied activities forward in the
health domain, focusing on innovative and emerging knowledge relevant to industry and the society
at large.
IIMA’s Research Centres work towards becoming a knowledge hub for academia, policymakers, and
the public / private sector by fostering cutting-edge research in their respective domains. Currently
there are 11 such Centres at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad many of which are
supported by donated funds from alumni and / or industry.
9. Shantanu Agarwal Award
Beginning upcoming academic year, the Shantanu Agarwal Award will be given to a PGP / PGP-FABM
student (for the next 12 years) who excels in the Finance courses programme. The award, set up in
memory of our student Shantanu Agarwal (PGP 2019-21) is in the form of a cash prize, will be
presented during IIMA’s Convocation each year. On behalf of the Institute and the IIMA Endowment
Fund, we thank well-wishers & donors for choosing to commemorate Shantanu through this award
at his alma mater.
The institute is committed to recognizing meritorious students and extending meaningful financial
aid to deserving students with support from our donors. We invite our alumni and donors to join us
in this endeavour of supporting our students, faculty and the community.
10. Mental Wellness Initiative – Supported by PGP 1993
The PGP 1993 Batch is supporting the setting up of an initiative focused on promoting mental
wellbeing of IIMA community including students, faculty members and staff at Indian Institute of
Management Ahmedabad. This is facilitated by IIMA Endowment Fund.
We sincerely thank the PGP 1993 Batch for their generous support to the Institute in such an
important domain. The discussion on Mental health has been much more in recent times and
creating awareness, preventive mechanisms and support systems is very relevant to overall
wellbeing – including for the IIMA community.
This contribution will help fund the resources and related expenses for carrying out the activities in
mental health; under the guidance of the Institute. We are grateful to the Institute faculty and
administration for their support.
11. Edelweiss Supports IIMAs SMILE Initiative for Underprivileged Children & Full-Fee Woman Scholarship for PGP 1
The Edelweiss Financial Services Limited has contributed to IIMA for supporting IIMA’s SMILE
Initiative provides supplementary education to underprivileged school students as well as a full fee
scholarship (merit-cum-means) to a deserving PGP-1 female student in the current academic year.
We thank Vidya Shah (PGP 1989), Executive Chairperson at EdelGive Foundation and Rashesh Shah
(PGP 1989), Chairman at Edelweiss Financial Services for their generous support to the Institute.
Student Mediated Initiative for Learning to Excel or SMILE is an IIMA Initiative that supports
underprivileged school students from Grades 6 to 12 through voluntary services by IIMA students,
and other qualified teachers. During the last eight years, over 600 children from the urban slums of
Ranujanagar, Jodhpur and Vastrapur areas of Ahmedabad have benefitted from this program.
The full fee female scholarship; also made possible through this contribution, is a promising step as
more corporates and CSR come forward to support IIMA’s vision of providing significant waivers to
need-based meritorious students ensuring that financial constraints do not impede the future IIMA
students' educational pursuits.
12. Dakshesh Verma Memorial Award
In memory of our student, Dakshesh Verma (PGP 2022), his family has generously contributed to
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad by way of setting up an award for PGP student(s);
through the efforts of IIMA Endowment Fund. Each year, the award will be given to graduating
student(s) who excel in Marketing project work of the PGP programme. The award, which is in the
form of a cash prize, will be presented during IIMA’s Convocation each year. On behalf of the
Institute and the IIMA Endowment Fund, we thank Dakshesh Verma’s family for choosing to institute
the award in his memory at his alma mater.
13. Prof Dr V L Mote Student Award
The IIMA Endowment Fund is pleased to share that 20 alumni, faculty members and teaching
fraternity have come together and contributed to Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad by
way of setting up a dedicated award in memory of Prof VL Mote at IIMA.
The award will be given to a PGP student who excels in Operations and Decision Sciences (previously
called Production & Quantitative Method) course of the two-year PGP programme. The award,
which is in the form of a gold medal, will be presented during IIMA’s Convocation each year. We
thank all our donors for contributing towards this award, specifically our alum Madan Mohanka,
(Tega Industries) and Prof Jahar Saha for their support.
14. Harit Talwar Merit Award for Best Female Student Outperformer
We are pleased to share that Harit Talwar (PGP 1985) has contributed to Indian Institute of
Management Ahmedabad by way of setting up a dedicated merit award to a PGP-1 female student
who outperforms in academics, application of knowledge as well as leadership skills during the
academic year. The award will be presented during IIMA’s Convocation.
The all-encompassing criteria recognizes and celebrates women excellence and is a step towards a
more diverse and inclusive student body at IIMA. On behalf of the Institute and the Endowment
Fund, we thank Mr Harit Talwar for this meaningful financial aid to a deserving female student at
IIMA.
15. A One-of-a-Kind Programme at IIMA supported by Dr Lal PathLabs
IIMAEF facilitates a one-of-its-kind leadership programme for visually challenged women at IIMA
Supported by the Dr Lal PathLabs Foundation through the efforts of the IIMA Endowment Fund, this
one-of-its-kind training programme aims to equip visually challenged women professionals in social
sector with management skills to help their transition into senior-level leadership roles in the future.
The programme is organized from April 25 to 27 at IIMA Campus with over 11 faculty members from
IIMA and the Blind People’s Association (BPA).
Last year, the IIMA Endowment Fund facilitated setting up of the Dr Lal PathLabs Chair in Healthcare
to carry out cutting-edge research and programmes that can further strengthen the collaboration
between academia and industry, optimize the forward and backward linkages in the healthcare
ecosystem and promote thought leadership in this domain.
We are grateful to Dr Lal PathLabs for their contribution to IIMA. We also thank IIMA faculty
members who have generously supported this programme with their time and efforts.
The programme is unique since it is geared towards developing inclusive women leadership in social
sector. Disabilities should not impair access to education and leadership and this programme is a
great enabler of diversity. It also offers IIMA a different perspective on teaching pedagogies for the
visually challenged. IIMA Endowment Fund is proud to be associated with this initiative.
16. Marico Leadership Programme for School Teachers
IIMA Endowment Fund facilitated raising CSR funds from Marico Limited for a training aimed at
education and leadership development of 1 lakh+ government school teachers from across the
country at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
The Programme was executed through ADCLOD, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad –
Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development at IIMA.
This one-year long programme was aimed at upgrading leadership skills of current school teachers
through 40 high-quality e-content video tutorials in Hindi; focusing at key leadership values such as
managing expectations, data-driven decision-making for school improvement, school discipline &
emotional well-being, mindfulness & inner stability, managing multiple perspectives, managing self-
limiting beliefs, developing a positive social-emotional climate in school and teacher innovation.
We are grateful to Marico Limited for their support and thank IIMA faculty, Ashank Desai Centre for
Leadership and Organisational Development as well as IIMA Executive Education teams for
successfully implementing this programme.