Indian philanthropists fund new scientific institutes and scholarships amid calls for stronger research base

What happened: A group of Indian business figures have made major philanthropic commitments to basic science and higher education in India. Where: Initiatives launched in Mumbai and across India. Who announced it: Lodha Group CEO Abhishek Lodha, physicist Jainendra Jain at the Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute launch, and Rajiv Bajaj for a women’s engineering scholarship programme. When: Announcements and launches took place in the past year, including the institute launch in late May. Key outcome: These commitments aim to strengthen India’s research infrastructure and support long-term scientific competitiveness.

Several high-value donations and new programmes were unveiled, signalling a shift in philanthropic focus from religious and charitable giving toward institution building in science and technology. Abhishek Lodha pledged $100 million over eight to 10 years to establish the Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute in Mumbai, inviting Jainendra Jain to serve as founding director.

Shortly after, Rajiv Bajaj launched what is described as India’s largest scholarship programme for women in core engineering, offering up to 800,000 rupees per scholar for study at selected reputed universities. Other notable commitments include funding from Kris Gopalakrishnan for brain research and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw’s laboratory for frontier biology established in 2022.

Philanthropists from Bengaluru and other technology hubs have also backed projects ranging from robotic astronomy to multi-specialty medical research. Observers say this trend reflects a growing view among wealthy donors that science underpins national competitiveness and innovation.

Official and expert commentary highlighted gaps in India’s current research ecosystem. India’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development stands at about 0.6–0.7% of GDP, with the private sector contributing roughly 36%—substantially below levels in major economies such as the US, China and South Korea.

Benefactors and funders pointed to longstanding underinvestment in academic infrastructure. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw noted that major global academic institutions were built with philanthropic support, and that India has relied historically on government funding for higher education and research.

Analysts at Dasra and other organisations said the new wave of giving is driven by both intergenerational family philanthropists and first-generation tech wealth creators, who tend to be outcomes-focused and data-driven. They estimate families could add $14–15 billion in philanthropic capacity by fiscal 2030, though how much of that flows to science will depend on institution-building and credible pipelines for long-term investments.

Donors and experts also underscored sectoral opportunities where philanthropy and business naturally align, such as pharmaceuticals, where more funding into research could support innovation in drug development. Backers expect sustained philanthropic engagement to gradually bolster India’s scientific base and support innovation and commercialisation over time.

The recent commitments mark a renewed phase in private support for science in India, following earlier foundations such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Indian Institute of Science. Donors say the current shift reflects an evolution from philanthropy focused on basic services to investments in excellence and long-term research capacity.