In The Spotlight
BITSync 2026: A Decade of Uniting the Global BITSian Spirit
The BITSAA Silicon Valley Chapter celebrated a monumental milestone with the 8th edition of BITSync in Mountain View, California. Marking 10 years of connecting BITSians, the flagship annual conference gathered a global powerhouse network under the theme, "Unravelling the Unknown."
A central highlight was an inspiring fireside chat on the BITS Vision 2030 roadmap, featuring Group Vice Chancellor Prof. V Ramgopal Rao and industry veteran Mr. Prem Jain. Fostering deep entrepreneurial roots, the signature Startup Showcase expected over $750K in funding deployment for BITSian-led early-stage ventures. Driven by dedicated global volunteers, the landmark event seamlessly bridged generations, proving that the BITSian community does not just step into the future, they actively build it.
BITS Pilani WILP to Showcase Innovation at Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2026
BITS Pilani's Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) will represent the institute at the Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo Europe 2026, scheduled to be held in Stuttgart, Germany, from 23–25 June 2026.
As one of the world's leading platforms for automotive innovation and next-generation mobility, the expo will bring together industry leaders, researchers, and technology experts from across the globe. At the expo, WILP will showcase its expertise in emerging areas, including Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), Automotive Cybersecurity, Penetration Testing, and Validation Systems for Modern Mobility Environments. This participation reflects BITS Pilani's commitment to advancing industry engagement, engineering innovation, and global collaboration in the rapidly evolving mobility ecosystem.
Research Spotlight
BITS Pilani Researchers Develop Promising Gel for Arthritis Treatment
Researchers from the Department of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, have developed an innovative gel that could help improve the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The research team includes Prof. Gautam Singhvi, Associate Professor; Prof. Aniruddha Roy, Professor; Ms. Sakshi Priya, Research Scholar; and Mr. Vagesh Verma, Research Scholar.
The gel uses tiny nanoparticles to deliver medicine directly to affected joints, helping reduce inflammation while limiting side effects in other parts of the body. Early studies have shown encouraging results, suggesting that the technology could offer a safer and more effective way to manage arthritis. The research reflects BITS Pilani’s commitment to developing innovative healthcare solutions that can improve everyday lives.
Can AI Make Credit More Inclusive? BITS Researchers Investigate
Who gets access to credit in an age where algorithms increasingly make the decisions? A research team from the Department of Economics & Finance at BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus is exploring this critical question through a major project funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). Led by Prof. R. L. Manogna (Principal Investigator) and Prof. Ch V V S N V Prasad (Co-Principal Investigator), the study examines the impact of AI-driven credit scoring systems on MSME lending in India.
With a focus on algorithmic bias across gender, geography, and business formality, the research seeks to understand how emerging credit assessment models influence financial inclusion. The project will also explore Explainable AI, borrower trust, and policy frameworks that can support fairer lending practices. By bridging technology, finance, and public policy, this research aims to contribute to a more transparent and equitable credit ecosystem for India's entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Student Spotlight
Meet the BITS Student Building Drones for Balcony Deliveries
What if your next online order could be delivered straight to your balcony?
That’s the vision behind BitBot, an innovative deep-tech startup founded at BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, by Ashish Bhardwaj, a pre-final-year student. Tackling the often-overlooked challenge of "vertical last-mile delivery," BitBot is developing autonomous drones capable of delivering packages directly to apartment balconies and windows.
In densely populated cities where high-rise living is the norm, security checkpoints, restricted access, and malfunctioning elevators frequently delay deliveries. By taking to the skies, BitBot aims to bypass these obstacles and create a faster, more efficient delivery experience. With a bold idea and cutting-edge technology, Ashish and his team are demonstrating how student-led innovation can address real-world urban challenges—one flight at a time.
Alumni Spotlight
BITS Pilani alumni have been featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list.
Dhawal Jain (Batch of 2016), Aman Kumar (Batch of 2016), and Jai Sharma (Batch of 2016) — Co-founders of Mave Health; Prateek Behera (Batch of 2014) — Co-founder of gradCapital; Siddharth Shankar Tripathi (Batch of 2014) — Founder of Ringg AI;
From mental health technology and venture capital to artificial intelligence, these alumni are building ventures that are addressing real-world challenges and shaping the future of their industries. Congratulations to all five on this well-deserved recognition. Their achievements reflect the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact that continues to define the BITS Pilani community.
Faculty Spotlight
Celebrating Scientific Excellence: Prof. Judith Maria Braganca Receives GRVP 2025–26
Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Judith Maria Braganca, Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, on being conferred the prestigious Goa Rajya Vidnyanik Puraskar (GRVP) 2025–26 under the Environment category.
This distinguished recognition celebrates her significant contributions to environmental research and her commitment to addressing critical sustainability challenges through science and innovation. Her work continues to advance knowledge, influence positive environmental outcomes, and inspire the next generation of researchers and changemakers. The BITS Pilani community takes pride in this remarkable achievement and congratulates Prof. Braganca on this well-deserved honor.
BITS Goa ARD Team Connects with Bengaluru’s Vibrant BITSian Community
The BITS Goa Alumni Relations Division (ARD) team recently visited Bengaluru to engage with alumni across entrepreneurship, academia, technology, and industry. Led by Associate Dean Prof. Sarang Dhongdi, along with Dr. Sridevi Jaiswal and Prof. Vinaya Kumar, the discussions focused on fostering startup ecosystems, building academic collaborations, strengthening alumni mentorship, planning batch reunions, and exploring emerging technologies.
Interactions with distinguished alumni from diverse sectors generated valuable insights for institutional growth and future initiatives. The visit underscored the power of the BITS alumni network in advancing innovation, collaboration, and community engagement, while reinforcing a shared commitment to shaping the institute’s next chapter.
Events Gallery
Connecting Talent, Industry, and Opportunity at BITS Dubai
BITS Pilani Dubai Campus successfully hosted its 11th Annual Career Fair, bringing together over 400 engineering and management students with more than 80 leading UAE and international recruiters.
With 60+ companies participating onsite and 20+ joining virtually, the event created a dynamic platform for students to engage with industry leaders and explore career opportunities.
The fair delivered impressive outcomes, with 51% of participating students being shortlisted by at least one company, and many receiving interest from multiple employers. The event also reflected the strength of BITS Pilani Dubai Campus' industry-aligned education, which has helped place over 50 AI engineers across UAE companies in recent months.
A heartfelt thank you to our recruiting partners and Career Services team for making this flagship event a remarkable success.
ISMC 2026 Brings the Global Soft Matter Community to Goa
BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, in collaboration with IIT Madras, proudly hosted the 10th International Soft Matter Conference (ISMC 2026) from 25–29 May 2026.
Marking the conference's debut in India, the event brought together leading researchers, academicians, and students to explore advances in soft matter science across physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. With over 750 participants from 29 countries, ISMC 2026 fostered vibrant scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global networking. Featuring distinguished plenary speakers and cutting-edge research discussions, the conference reinforced BITS Pilani's commitment to advancing scientific discovery and international academic engagement.
Our sincere thanks to all organizers, speakers, participants, sponsors, and student volunteers who made the event a resounding success.
BITS Hyderabad Partners to Empower 300 Rural Women Entrepreneurs
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus has partnered with the Government of Telangana, SERP Telangana, T-Hub, and WE Hub for the launch of the Incubator Programme under DAY-NRLM, an initiative aimed at strengthening 300 women-led rural enterprises across the state.
Through the BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus TBI Society (TBIS), the institute will provide incubation support, enterprise mentoring, innovation enablement, market readiness guidance, and business growth assistance to women entrepreneurs associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
By combining academic expertise, innovation ecosystems, and grassroots entrepreneurship, the programme seeks to nurture sustainable and scalable enterprises while driving women-led development and socio-economic transformation across Telangana.
Innovation & Collaboration
BITS Dubai and Sobha LLC Forge Strategic Industry-Academia Alliance
BITS Pilani Dubai Campus has entered into a strategic partnership with Sobha LLC, UAE, formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Mr. Francis Alfred, Managing Director & CEO, Sobha Realty, and Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus.
The collaboration aims to foster innovation, research partnerships, skill development, and knowledge exchange by connecting academic expertise with real-world industry challenges. Through this engagement, students and faculty will gain opportunities to contribute to impactful, future-focused solutions while strengthening industry readiness.
This partnership marks another step in BITS Pilani's commitment to building meaningful industry relationships that advance learning, innovation, and societal impact.
BITS Hyderabad and Avio Smart Market Stack Sign MoU
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Avio Smart Market Stack Limited, marking the beginning of a collaborative partnership focused on innovation, knowledge exchange, and industry engagement.
Facilitated by the BITS Pilani Alumni Relations Division, the partnership aims to create meaningful opportunities for students, researchers, and industry stakeholders through collaborative initiatives and shared expertise. By strengthening connections between academia and industry, the collaboration will support experiential learning, research-driven innovation, and future-ready skill development.This partnership reflects BITS Pilani's continued commitment to building impactful industry relationships that enrich the academic ecosystem and drive innovation-led growth.
BITS Students Explore the Future of Healthcare AI with Dr. Reddy's
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus recently hosted the Dr. Reddy's Laboratories team for an engaging session under its Practice School-II (PS-II) collaboration. Students gained insights into how Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and predictive analytics are transforming healthcare and drug discovery.
Mr. Chiranjoy Chowdhary (Head – AI and Data) shared the vision for Digital & AI Labs, while Ms. Niharika Tammara (Principal – AI Labs and BITS Pilani Goa alumna) highlighted how interns contribute to solving real-world challenges. Perspectives from Mr. Shashank Saxena (HR Partner – Dpex) and Mr. Rabbani Uppal (Lead – Early Careers) emphasized innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
The session was organized with the support of Prof. Annapoorna Gopal, Dean, PSD, and showcased the strength of industry-academia collaboration in preparing future-ready BITSians.
Awards
Honouring Two Distinguished BITSians with the BITS Ratna Award
BITS Pilani recently conferred the prestigious BITS Ratna Award 2026 on distinguished alumni Shri Brij Bhushan (Batch of 1965) and Dr. Champa Bhushan (Batch of 1966) in recognition of their exceptional professional achievements, enduring mentorship, and steadfast support for the global BITSian community.
Their impact extends far beyond their professional accomplishments. Through a generous endowment to BITS Pilani, Shri Brij Bhushan has helped create opportunities for female students and support faculty-guided engineering projects. Long-standing champions of the institute, Shri Brij Bhushan, founder of Reston Consulting Group (RCG), and Dr. Champa Bhushan have played a significant role in strengthening the BITSian network and fostering a culture of giving back.
