MoU inked between IIT-K and JK Cement Limited

Proposed hospital to be named after Shri Yadupati Singhania

Kanpur, October 26, 2021: IIT Kanpur and JK Cement Limited has inked a pact to work together on a Super Specialty Hospital at the campus as part of the Institution’s ambitious initiative to establish School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT).

IIT Kanpur and JK Cement Limited, a leading cement company in the country, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the area of setting up a Super Specialty Hospital. JKCL has consented to support the initiative with funding of Rs. 60 Crore as part of its CSR.

The MoU is part of the IIT Kanpur’s endeavor to bring about a paradigm shift in approach towards medical research and innovation in the country. IIT-K proposes to establish School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT). It also proposes to establish Centers of Excellence (CoE) on futuristic medicines and a Super Specialty Hospital as part of SMRT.

The MoU was signed between Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director IIT-K and Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Director JK Cement Ltd., Shri Nidhipati Singhania (Vice President, JK Organisation & Director JK Cement Ltd), Shri Madhavkrishna Singhania (Dy Managing Director & CEO, JK Cement Ltd), Shri Ajay Kumar Saraogi (Dy Managing Director & CFO, JK Cement Ltd) and other senior management persons of JK Cement Ltd were present. From IIT-K, Professor S. Ganesh (Dy Director), Professor Jayant Singh (Dean, Resources and Alumni), Shri Kapil Kaul (CEO, IITK Development Foundation) were also present.

The proposed hospital has been named as “Yadupati Singhania Memorial Super Specialty Hospital” to honor the contribution of Shri Yadupati Singhania a 1975 BTech Civil Engineering alumnus of IIT Kanpur and a business leader par excellence with contributions to the growth of business in Kanpur and India. Under his stewardship, JKCL has grown to be one of the leading cement manufacturing company with a capacity of 15 million tons in the country with a market capitalization of over 3 billion dollars and giving employment to several thousand across the country.

Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director IIT-K said “We are extremely grateful for the generous contributions of JKCL towards establishing a super specialty hospital which will benefit both the residents of Kanpur as well as those from other parts of the country. The proposed hospital will be associated with the School of Medical Research and Technology and will play an important role in driving IIT Kanpur’s innovations in medical research and technology”

The hospital component of the SMRT would be operated by a section 8 company named as 'Foundation of Medical Research and Technology (FMRT)' registered under Companies Act, 2013.

The SMRT project will be completed in two phases. The Phase I of the project will include setting up of a 400 bed Super Specialty Hospital, Academic Block, Residential/Hostel and Service Block with a total built-up area of approximately 7,00,000 sqft. The Phase I of SMRT will also set up Centers of Excellence (CoE) for pursuing R&D activities in futuristic medicine. The Phase I of the project is tentatively planned to be completed over the next 3-5 years. The Phase II of the SMRT project will see the hospital capacity grow to 1000 beds, expansion in clinical departments/centers, research areas, inclusion of paramedical disciplines, alternative medicine, hospital management, sport medicine, and public health programs. The Phase II of the SMRT project is planned to be completed over a period of 7- 10 years.

ABOUT IIT KANPUR: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, is one of the premier institutions set up by the Government of India. Registered in 1959, the institute was assisted by nine leading institutions of the U.S.A in the setting up of its academic programs and laboratories during the period 1962-72. With its record of path-breaking innovations and cutting-edge research, the institute is known the world over as a learning center of repute in engineering, science, and several interdisciplinary areas. In addition to formal undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the institute has been active in research and development in areas of value to both industry and government.

For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in.