Goa: Indian universities must shift their focus from producing graduates to generating knowledge, creating employment and commercialising research if they aspire to become globally competitive, financially sustainable institutions, said Dr H Purushotham, Secretary, Department of Science, Technology & Innovation, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Delivering a keynote address at the ETEducation Chancellors’ Conclave 2026, Purushotham explored the concept of building billion-dollar universities, arguing that institutional value must be measured not merely through infrastructure or enrolments but through research excellence, innovation, financial sustainability and long-term societal impact.
Drawing parallels with billion-dollar startups, he suggested that universities should increasingly think about creating measurable value through intellectual property, knowledge commercialisation and entrepreneurial ecosystems capable of attracting investment.
Research and innovation must drive institutional growth
Purushotham emphasised that while Indian universities have demonstrated their ability to produce graduates at scale, the next phase of growth must be driven by research and knowledge creation.
Referring to institutions such as Stanford, Harvard and MIT, he highlighted how research-intensive universities have developed strong innovation ecosystems that contribute to technological advancements, enterprise creation and regional economic development.
He urged Indian universities to strengthen research infrastructure, improve academic quality, pursue global recognition and build stronger alumni networks capable of supporting institutional development.
According to Purushotham, universities must create environments where new knowledge is not only generated but also protected through intellectual property and translated into commercially viable solutions.
Every graduate should leave with a job offer or startup idea
Highlighting the need for measurable student outcomes, Purushotham proposed a clear benchmark for institutional success.
By graduation, he argued, students should ideally possess either a job offer or a viable startup idea that could enable them to establish their own ventures.
He stressed that employment remains a primary motivation for many families investing in higher education, making career readiness and entrepreneurship essential responsibilities of universities.
Such an approach, he suggested, could help institutions move beyond conventional academic outcomes towards direct contributions to employment generation and economic growth.
Equitable research funding critical for private and state universities
Purushotham also raised concerns over disparities in government research funding, arguing that state and private universities face significant disadvantages compared with leading centrally funded institutions.
He questioned funding eligibility conditions linked to institutional rankings, suggesting that such requirements could exclude universities that need financial support to strengthen their research capabilities.
Calling for a more inclusive funding framework, he advocated dedicated government R&D allocations for state and private universities to enable wider participation in research and innovation.
He maintained that institutions cannot be expected to achieve global research standards without equitable access to financial resources and opportunities.
The future of billion-dollar universities, Purushotham argued, will depend on their ability to combine financial sustainability with research excellence, entrepreneurship and measurable societal impact—creating institutions whose value extends far beyond the degrees they award.
