Since its founding in 1909, IISc has remained India’s premier institution for research and education. IISc’s faculty members, students and alumni have made pioneering contributions to the growth of science and technology, and revolutionized the research landscape in the country.

 

“Institution of Eminence”
under MHRD

#1 institution overall in India (2017, 2018) & #1 university (2016, 2017, 2018)
National Institutional Ranking Framework (MHRD)

#91-100 in World Reputation Rankings (2018) – Only Indian institution in top 100
#14 in Emerging Economies (2019)
#95 in Engineering & Tech (2019)

Times Higher Education 

#2 in citations per faculty (2019)
#51-100 in Materials Sciences (2019)

#51-100 in Chemical Engineering (2019)
QS World University Rankings

#39 in Aerospace Engineering (2018)
Academic Ranking of World Universities


Awards (cumulative)

Fellowships (among serving faculty)

Bharat Ratna 2 Indian National Science Academy 91
Padma Awards 35 Indian National Academy of Engineering 59
JC Bose Fellowship Award 75 Indian Academy of Sciences 107
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize 95 National Academy of Sciences (India) 74
Swarnajayanti Fellowship 34 IEEE Fellows 9
Infosys Prize 5 Fellows of The World Academy of Sciences 30

A Legacy of Nation Building

IISc was founded in 1909 as a result of a visionary partnership between the pioneer Jamsetji Tata, the Maharaja of Mysore and the Government of India. Over the last century, IISc has hosted countless eminent visionaries and researchers, starting with Nobel Laureate Sir CV Raman, IISc’s first Indian director.

Many IISc alumni, faculty members and scientists have founded and built leading institutions and initiatives across the country, such as:

  • TIFR & Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, founded by Homi Bhabha, former IISc faculty member
  • India’s space programme & IIM Ahmedabad, founded by Vikram Sarabhai, former IISc researcher
  • ISRO, headed and built by Satish Dhawan, former IISc director
  • The first IIT at Kharagpur, established by JC Ghosh, former IISc director
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, founded by CNR Rao, former IISc director
  • Central Food Technological Research Institute, founded by V Subrahmanyan, former IISc faculty member
  • Centre for Human Genetics, started by H Sharat Chandra, former IISc faculty member

Former IISc scientists have also headed National Aeronautics Laboratory, Bharat Electronics Limited, National Institute for Advanced Studies, Tata Energy Research Institute, DRDO and many more.


A Tradition of Innovation

IISc is renowned for its emphasis on innovative, interdisciplinary research in both basic and applied sciences. From core engineering to humanities, IISc’s diverse curriculum allows its more than 3000 students to pursue myriad research questions and work towards finding novel solutions to pressing global challenges. The Institute also encourages fundamental research in critical areas such as climate change, neuroscience, big data, ecology, infectious diseases and nanotechnology.

India’s first ever deemed university, IISc also has the distinction of introducing several new research disciplines & programmes for the first time in India, including Master’s programmes in engineering & integrated PhD programmes. The Institute also recently launched a Bachelor of Science (Research) programme.

IISc actively encourages entrepreneurial ventures by faculty, students and alumni. Companies such as Strand Life Sciences, Picopeta Simputers, SandI and Mymo Wireless Technologies were incubated in recent years by IISc’s Society for Innovation and Development.

 


 A Culture of Collaboration

IISc offers unique academic freedom for its faculty members and students to collaborate extensively with industry, in order to find viable and sustainable solutions to scientific and technological challenges.

IISc collaborates with leading organizations in myriad sectors — such as Boeing, Google, General Electric, Intel, Microsoft, IBM & Indian Immunologicals — on R&D schemes & sponsored projects. Supported by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Consultancy, IISc researchers work on consultancy projects to address the industry’s problems while ensuring that the Institute’s work remains relevant to national needs.

IISc scientists also work on joint national and regional research projects with various governmental agencies such as DRDO, DST, CSIR and NAL. IISc has signed MoUs with dozens of universities and organizations in over 20 countries to promote collaborative learning and exchange programmes.


Perspectives on IISc’s legacy:

IISc as the Fountainhead of Indian Science and Technology – Prof. S. Ranganathan

IISc: Marking a Centenary – Prof. P. Balaram

Many Ramayanas: In Pursuit of the History of the Foundation of IISc and NIAS – Prof. S. Ranganathan

India’s SciTech Powerhouse – Prof. S. Ranganathan