New Delhi . IIT Kanpur alumnus and IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has once again decided to provide major financial assistance to his institute. Gangwal will contribute an additional Rs 300 crore for the development of Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology. This is the second major assistance after their initial contribution of Rs 100 crore in the year 2022. With this, the total contribution of Rakesh Gangwal for this medical school will become Rs 400 crore.
Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology has been established with the aim of linking the engineering and technical expertise of IIT Kanpur with medical education and health services. Under the plan of the institute, a 500-bed super-specialty hospital is being developed in the campus. Apart from this, there is also a proposal to establish a 200 bed Cancer Care and Research Centre.
The objective of these medical facilities is not only to provide better treatment to the patients, but also to promote medical education, clinical research and new experiments in the health field. IIT Kanpur strives to develop better synergy between engineering, technology and medicine, leading to new technologies and research for modern healthcare services.
The new support of Rs 300 crore given by Rakesh Gangwal has been given in the form of matching grant. That is, this contribution is in line with the cooperation provided by other partners for the development of the medical school. This additional funding is expected to significantly assist in carrying forward the development plans of the institute.
IIT Kanpur had decided to establish a medical school in the year 2021. The aim behind this was to increase the possibilities of research and innovation in the medical field along with engineering and technology and to improve health services in Uttar Pradesh. The project gained significant momentum after Rakesh Gangwal's contribution of Rs 100 crore in the year 2022.
Dean of Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Prof. Anil K Lalwani. Director of the institute Prof. Manindra Aggarwal has described collaboration between medicine, engineering and technology as important for the future. The school's leadership believes that Gangwal's contribution can play an important role in driving major institutional change.
Rakesh Gangwal himself is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur. He completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from the institute in the year 1975. After this he did MBA from Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania. He has extensive experience in the airline industry and has worked with US Airways, Air France and United Airlines.
In the year 2006, Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia started InterGlobe Aviation. This company later became associated with the operation of India's major airline IndiGo. Gangwal has linked the support given to his institution's medical school to the development of an innovative and first-of-its-kind medical institution.
Rakesh Gangwal's new infusion of Rs 300 crore comes at a time when IIT Kanpur is moving towards expanding its medical education and health research infrastructure. Plans such as a 500-bed super-specialty hospital and the proposed Cancer Care and Research Center are important steps towards developing this initiative as a comprehensive health and research hub.