Faculty Spotlight: NIT Delhi Professor Funds AI Lab from Own Salary, Leads First Commercial Transfer of EV Charger Technology
Professor Ujjwal Kumar Kalla of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Delhi has been awarded several institutional honors for his contributions to research and technology transfer. These include funding an AI research lab using his own salary and leading the institute’s first official technology transfer.
Commercial Technology Transfer Milestone
NIT Delhi has successfully commercialized a unified single-port electric vehicle (EV) battery charger system. This marks the institute’s first official technology transfer in its history. The project represents a significant step in bridging the gap between academic research and real-world applications.
Funding the AI Lab
Professor Kalla personally funded and established the ‘AI and DSP-Based Control of Power Electronic Systems Laboratory’ using his own salary. The lab’s estimated cost was Rs 28 lakh. It features several converter-based systems designed to provide students with hands-on learning tools.
Addressing Industry Needs
Professor Kalla, who is Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and founding Dean of Startup and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), stated that existing laboratory setups in Indian engineering colleges often do not adequately reflect industrial realities. He developed 28 advanced experimental setups integrating AI, power electronics, and electronic control engineering to address this gap.
Industry Collaboration
Professor Kalla emphasized the importance of industry engagement in converting academic research into market-ready products. He has secured 30 patents, with 18 granted to date. He stresses the need to solve real-time field problems through collaboration with industry, including visiting plants to identify operational bottlenecks.
Institutional Recognition
In recognition of his leadership, NIT Delhi presented Professor Kalla with the Certificate of Excellence for Exemplary Service 2026 for building the university’s patent filing and startup incubation framework. He also received the Innovation Excellence Award 2026 for securing the highest number of granted patents at the institute in 2025, alongside Research and Academic Excellence Awards for two consecutive appraisal cycles in 2024 and 2025.
Future Research Focus
Looking ahead, Professor Kalla plans to direct his research toward critical national priority sectors, including drones, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Source: Education Times. Featured image credit: Education Times.
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