Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, has been featured in the Director Circle of IIT Bombay, recognised as an ‘Institution of Eminence’ by the Ministry of Education. This honour is in recognition of Dr Chaudhari’s contribution towards furthering the cause of education & technology in close collaboration with his alma mater.
The esteemed ‘Director’s Circle’ of IIT Bombay features personalities who have made impactful contributions to support institute’s mission of being amongst the top science and technology institutes worldwide by 2030. Alumni’s philanthropic gifts to IIT Bombay have played a crucial role in the continued growth of the Institute. Sustained support from fervent and spirited alumni has played an instrumental role in helping IIT Bombay maintain its position as India’s premier institute worldwide.
Dr Pramod Chaudhari is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from 1971 batch of IIT Bombay. He founded Praj Industries in 1983 and over past decades he has led Praj to be India’s most accomplished industrial biotech company globally. Widely acclaimed as ethanol man, Dr Chaudhari is the winner of the prestigious George Washington Carver Award 2020 and William C Holmberg award 2022, regarded as top global honours in the bioeconomy.
Dr Pramod Chaudhari has a strong ongoing association with IIT Bombay, having established the Alumni Continuing Education Centre (PCACEC) for facilitating the lifelong learning of alumni in 2021. PCACEC explores the untapped areas for Research and Technological advancement and its relevance to the application in respective fields. Dr. Chaudhari has also set up the Centre for Learning and Teaching (PPCCLT) in 2019 for adopting global best practices in teaching & Learning. In addition, he has helped set up of Laboratory for Cell Culture, two chair professorships as well as one award for Academic Excellence.