Millennium School of Technology and Society Established by IIT Kanpur Alumni
The Millennium School of Technology and Society (MSTAS) is set to be launched at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, thanks to a remarkable Rs 100 crore commitment from the Class of 2000 alumni. This significant announcement took place during the silver jubilee reunion of the batch in Kanpur.
Focus Areas of MSTAS
MSTAS will concentrate on the intersection of technology, public policy, ethics, and its impacts on society. It is designed to enhance IIT Kanpur’s current strengths in engineering and science.
Notable Achievements of the Class of 2000
Known informally as the Millennium Batch, the Class of 2000 is distinguished by its strong presence in entrepreneurship and global technological leadership. Alumni have established companies including InMobi, Glance, NoBroker, Yulu, Knowlarity, and Card91, alongside involvement in ventures like Cohesity and Martini. Additionally, some alumni were among the early employees at WhatsApp.
Senior Roles in Leading Organizations
Members of this notable cohort currently occupy or have previously held senior positions at renowned global companies such as Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, BCG, Morgan Stanley, and GIC. This batch has also produced three unicorns — InMobi, Glance, and NoBroker — marking the highest achievement from any IIT Kanpur batch to date.
Pledges from Alumni
As part of the collective commitment, Naveen Tewari, who is the founder and CEO of InMobi and Glance, has vowed to contribute Rs 30 crore personally.
A Vision for Education and Leadership
IIT Kanpur has stated that the new school will aim to inspire interdisciplinary education and leadership growth, with a strong focus on grasping the wider implications of technology-driven changes. Alumni advocating this initiative describe it as a long-term endeavour towards building a fruitful institution.
Future Developments
The operational specifics and timeline for MSTAS are anticipated to be revealed by the institute in the upcoming months.