भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान खड़गपुर
AGRI BUSINESS INCUBATION FOUNDATION
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR
IIT KHARAGPUR
Board of Directors
Prof. Suman Chakraborty
Professor Suman Chakraborty has had an illustrious journey at IIT Kharagpur, advancing from faculty to leadership and serving as Director of the Institute. An Institute Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering and former Dean (R&D), he is internationally renowned for pioneering research in microscale and nanoscale fluid dynamics and for translating these insights into frugal, high-impact healthcare technologies, including the widely acclaimed COVIRAP rapid diagnostic platform. His path-breaking contributions have been recognised through India’s highest academic and research honours, such as the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, the J. C. Bose Fellowship, the G. D. Birla Award, the Infosys Prize, the National Teachers’ Award, and the TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of ABIF IIT Kharagpur, he provides visionary leadership, fostering innovation, accelerating technology translation, and nurturing sustainable entrepreneurship to address critical challenges in agriculture, health, and rural livelihoods.
Prof. Rintu Banerjee
At the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Rintu Banerjee, the Head of Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, has carved a distinctive path in Biomass Deconstruction, Biofuel Production, and Enzyme Technology. Her pioneering work has led to the grant of 8 Indian and 3 International (US, Japanese, and Chinese) patents. With over 150 publications in peer-reviewed national/international journals, she has mentored numerous Ph.D., MS, MTech, and Btech students. Rintu Banerjee's contributions extend to being an Editorial Member of several journals and an author of 24 book chapters, including her book on "Environmental Biotechnology," published by Oxford University Press. Recognized for her excellence, she has received accolades from both government and non-government organizations. Rintu Banerjee's visionary leadership has led to the successful incubation of numerous agri-business ventures, harnessing cutting-edge research and technology.
Mr. Krishnaswami Vishwanath Iyer
Mr. K.V. Iyer is a mechanical engineer from Bombay University with a PGDM from IIM Ahmedabad. He has over three decades of experience in marketing, HR, and general management in Indian family businesses and MNCs. Currently, he is a visiting faculty at NAARM Hyderabad, teaching agripreneurship since 2011. He is also an online evaluator for BIRAC and RAFTAR schemes. Mr. Iyer is associated with several agribusiness incubation programs like MANAGE, PUSA KRISHI,NIAM,& Ag HUB at the Telengna University Earlier he had held leadership positions at Nagarjuna Fertilizers, Coromandel International, and at the Murugappa Group. From 2001-2005 Mr Iyer was MD of Chambal Agritech instrumental in setting up their agri biotech-Green house seed potato facility. Mr. Iyer is on the boardof MABIF, set up by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and NABARD.
Capt. Amit Jain (Retd.)
Captain Amit Jain, commissioned in 1988, graduated from the National Defence Academy and completed his M. Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies and PGDBM in Human Resources. With over three decades of service, he has served as Navigating Officer, Operation Officer, and Executive Officer, and is a Navigation and Direction specialist. Mr. Jain was a recipient of commendations from the Chief of the Naval Staff in 1992 and 2008. He is currently serving as Registrar of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
Prof. Madan Kumar Jha
Prof. Madan Kumar Jha, with a Ph.D. in Subsurface Hydrology, has been associated with the Board since 2023. He possesses over 25 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership, offering deep insights into water resource management and sustainability
Mr. Purushottam Kumar Bhardwaj
Mr. Purushottam Kumar Bhardwaj is the Chief General Manager of the West Bengal Regional Office of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Holding an MBA in Finance, he brings extensive experience in rural development banking, institutional finance, financial inclusion, and agricultural development. Over the course of his career, he has contributed significantly to initiatives relating to rural credit, cooperative development, and strengthening sustainable financial ecosystems for inclusive growth. As a Director on the Board of ABIF IIT Kharagpur since 2024, he provides valuable strategic guidance in fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship and technology-led solutions for sustainable rural and agricultural development.
Dr. Bhukhan Ram Premi
Dr. Bhukhan Ram Premi is the Chief General Manager at NABARD, Head Office, Mumbai, and is associated with NABARD’s Rural MSME Department. The Department works to promote non-farm livelihoods, skill development, rural enterprise promotion, GI support, and rural business incubation. As a Director on the Board of ABIF IIT Kharagpur, Mr. Premi brings significant experience in rural development banking and financial administration, supporting policy direction and financial governance.
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