IIT Kanpur Alumnus, Mr. Jagjeet Singh Bindra, Commits $1.15 Million for Chemical Engineering Infrastructure

In a significant step towards strengthening its research and academic infrastructure, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) will establish a new Chemical Engineering Annex, supported by a generous commitment of $1.15 million from distinguished alumnus Mr. Jagjeet Singh Bindra (BT/CHE/1969).

The upcoming facility, to be named the “Janice and Jagjeet Bindra Chemical Engineering Annex”, will serve as a modern hub for teaching, research, and innovation within the Department of Chemical Engineering. Designed as a 4,000 sq. m. state-of-the-art building, the annex will address critical infrastructure needs and enable the department to expand its academic and research capabilities.

The new facility is expected to house advanced laboratories, smart classrooms, faculty offices, and collaborative research spaces, supporting emerging areas such as sustainable technologies, computational catalysis, biotechnology, and advanced materials. It will also strengthen industry-academia partnerships and create an enabling ecosystem for interdisciplinary innovation.

Sharing his motivation for the contribution, Mr. Jagjeet Singh Bindra said, “ IIT Kanpur provided me with outstanding education, which has been the foundation of my professional career. It is my privilege and honour to have the opportunity to contribute in a small way so that IITK can continue to enrich the lives of future student scholars.”

The Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Kanpur, one of the institute’s founding departments, has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation. The new annex is expected to significantly enhance its capacity to deliver high-quality education while advancing research output and global collaborations.

Expressing appreciation for the contribution, Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “Mr. Bindra has been one of the long-term benefactors of IIT Kanpur. We are grateful to Mr. Bindra for his visionary support towards advancing IIT Kanpur’s academic and research infrastructure. The establishment of this facility will create new avenues for learning, innovation, and translational research in Chemical Engineering at IIT Kanpur.”

Prof. Amey Karkare, Dean of Resources and Alumni, added, “Mr. Bindra’s continued association with IIT Kanpur is deeply inspiring. His contributions over the years have meaningfully strengthened the institute, and this latest commitment further reinforces his enduring legacy. It is through such long-term partnerships that we are able to build institutions that not only excel today but continue to lead and inspire in the future.”

IIT Kanpur will formally recognize the contribution through the naming of the facility, embedding the donor’s legacy within the academic fabric of IIT Kanpur.

This contribution builds upon Mr. Bindra’s long-standing association with IIT Kanpur. Over the past three decades, he has consistently supported the institute across a range of key initiatives, including the ‘Jeet Bindra Unit Operations & Innovation Lab’, Jeet Singh Bindra Center of Excellence in Specialty Chemicals,’ and the ‘Jeet Bindra AI in Engineering Science Lab’, along with several other infrastructure development projects, research grants, faculty support initiatives, and student-focused programs. This sustained engagement reflects not only generosity but also a strategic vision to strengthen education and research at IIT Kanpur in an enduring manner.

Mr. Bindra is a globally accomplished industry leader with a distinguished career spanning leadership roles across major organizations and board positions at global corporations such as LyondellBasell, L&T, Edison International, Transocean, and Worley. His professional journey and philanthropic contributions together underscore a strong commitment to advancing engineering education and innovation.

IIT Kanpur extends its sincere gratitude to Mr. Bindra and looks forward to the transformative impact this initiative will create for generations of students, researchers, and faculty.