THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 31, 2026
The
International Institute of Information Technology, Bhubaneswar (IIIT
Bhubaneswar) has marked a major milestone in its academic journey with the
appointment of globally acclaimed computer scientist Prof. Sankar Kumar Pal as
a Prime Minister Professor under the prestigious Prime Minister Professorship
programme of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of
India.
The Prime
Minister Professorship is a flagship national initiative of ANRF aimed at
strengthening India’s research ecosystem by positioning eminent scholars and
scientists in institutions with emerging research potential. With a strong
focus on sustained mentorship, institutional capacity building, and high-impact
outcomes, the programme seeks to bridge regional research gaps and catalyse
excellence across the country.
Prof. Pal, a
Padma Shri awardee and recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and the
National Science Chair, brings with him an extraordinary academic and research
legacy. Born in Kolkata, he holds two Ph.D. degrees — one from the University
of Calcutta and another from Imperial College London — and is internationally
recognised for his pioneering contributions to machine intelligence, fuzzy
logic, soft computing, pattern recognition, image and video processing,
granular computing, and hybrid intelligent systems.
Over a
distinguished career spanning several decades, Prof. Pal has authored more than
500 research papers, written 21 books, and holds two U.S. patents. His seminal
work has significantly shaped the evolution of artificial intelligence and data
science research in India and across the globe. He has previously served as
Director and is currently serving as President of the Indian Statistical
Institute (ISI), and has been instrumental in establishing premier research
centres such as the Machine Intelligence Unit and the Centre for Soft Computing
Research, mentoring generations of researchers worldwide.
At IIIT
Bhubaneswar, Prof. Pal is expected to spearhead transformative research
initiatives, foster a culture of innovation, and integrate cutting-edge
methodologies into the institute’s academic and research programmes. His
association is poised to substantially elevate the institute’s research profile
while reinforcing Odisha’s emergence as a dynamic hub of scientific inquiry,
advanced computing, and technological innovation.
