C3i Hub is set up through a generous grant of 170 crores (US$ 24 million) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

In the next five years, the center will incubate 125 startups in the cybersecurity domain and provide them support through relevant mentorship & grants.

Dr Nikhil Agarwal has taken up an additional responsibility as the Chief Executive Officer of the C3iHub (Cyber Security and Cyber Security of Cyber Physical Systems Innovation Hub), IIT Kanpur, alongside serving as the CEO of Foundation for Research and Innovation in Science and Technology (FIRST). Dr Nikhil Agarwal brings over two decades of rich experience of working in academia, government and industry and is parallelly serving as the CEO of FIRST-IITK.

C3iHub is set up through a generous grant of 170 crores (US$24 million) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for the period of five years 2020-2025. The first of its kind Cyber Security Center in India, C3iHub would be building solutions to safeguard critical infrastructures such as water and sewage systems, power grid, nuclear plants, and, rockets and missile control. The Center aims to support 125 startups in the next five years, to operate at the intersection of research, training, and problem-solving, through providing mentorship and forward linkages to funding opportunities.

Announcing Dr. Agarwal’s appointment, Prof. Manindra Agarwal, Program Director and Professor of Computer Science, IIT Kanpur, said, “As we transition in this era of digital and security transformation, Dr Nikhil Agarwal is ideally suited to lead the Center. The Board of Directors is very pleased to have a proven business and technology leader with a demonstrated ability to usher in scale with speed.”

Commenting on his new responsibility, Dr Agarwal, added, “I am honoured and thrilled to lead the C3i Hub with Prof. Manindra Agarwal and Prof. Sandeep Shukla. Over the last year, I have developed a deep appreciation for the value, culture, and pioneering spirit of technology innovators at IIT Kanpur. I passionately look forward to working with the entire team on our mission of protecting millions of citizens and organisations who are vulnerable to sophisticated cybercrime.”

Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “I congratulate Dr. Agarwal on taking up this additional responsibility as CEO of C3i Hub. I am sure with his capabilities for strategic vision and rich leadership experience in the field of business as well as knowledge in academia; he will add a significant value in taking C3i Hub to new heights. I wish Dr. Agarwal furthermore success in the coming days! “

Dr Nikhil Agarwal is currently serving as the CEO at Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST- IITK). He earned his MPhil in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge and PhD in Science, Technology and Innovation Studies (STIS) from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. He is the former CEO, Innovation Society, Government of Andhra Pradesh. His expertise lies in strategic planning and advisory and fostering innovation in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

About Center for Cyber Security and Cyber Defence of Critical Infrastructure Innovation Hub (C3i Hub), IIT Kanpur

The C3i Hub has been founded as the result of a generous grant of 170 crores (US$ 24 million) from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India to create the country’s maiden research centre and cybersecurity testbed for critical infrastructure.

The Center aims to deploy a two-pronged approach through training students to create a dedicated cadre of cyber security professionals and provide hands-on training to executives of utilities so that they can be aware of cyber security threats, and how to prevent such attacks. To achieve its objectives, C3i Hub will engage stakeholders globally to enable knowledge transfer through student exchanges, conferences, and workshops to foster a top-notch research ethos in the space of cyber security and cyber defence.