BITS Pilani Dubai Campus (BPDC) sets up a new centre of excellence (CoE). The new CoE – Ankitt Gaur Centre of Excellence in Blockchain and AI Research, represents the first endowment from a Work Integrated Learning Programme (WILP) alumnus, Ankitt Gaur, founder and CEO of OrbitXPay. Ankitt Gaur is an alumnus of 2007-2009 batch of BPDC.

The Ankitt Gaur Centre of Excellence aims to become a leading hub for research, innovation, and incubation in Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Web3 technologies. It seeks to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering an ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship, and start-ups, an official statement issued in this regard said.

As part of his philanthropic endeavours, Ankitt Gaur has also instituted the Nirmala Devi Scholarship for Girls at the Hyderabad Campus in honour of his mother. This 100 per cent scholarship supports deserving female students, reinforcing his commitment to advancing higher education for women in India. Ankitt has pledged to expand his efforts to empower underserved communities through education and technology.

Speaking on the initiative, professor V Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani said, “This initiative stands as a testament to the enduring impact of our alumni and their commitment to giving back to the institution that helped shape their journeys. Ankitt Gaur’s visionary support will significantly advance research and innovation in emerging technologies such as Blockchain, AI, and Web3. His generosity not only fuels technological advancements but also empowers students and researchers to become global leaders in these transformative fields.”

Speaking about the initiative, Ankitt Gaur said “BITS Pilani has played a pivotal role in shaping my career. As a proud alumnus, this commitment reflects my gratitude and vision to inspire innovation and technological advancement. Through this centre, I hope to empower innovators, students, and researchers to lead in the fields of AI, Blockchain, and Web3.”

The Centre of Excellence will serve as a platform for students and researchers to collaborate on cutting-edge projects, driving global leadership in next-generation technologies, it added. It aims to strengthen the synergy between academia and industry, catalysing research and start-up ecosystems.