From Bengaluru to IIT-JEE Rank 3, IBM, Microsoft and ANRF: Shivkumar Kalyanaraman's journey

An IIT Madras alumnus, former professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and senior technology executive at IBM and Microsoft, Kalyanaraman now heads the institution tasked with strengthening India's research and innovation ecosystem.New Delhi,Nov 6, 2026 16:55 ISTA career in science and technology can take many turns. Some spend their working lives in universities, others move into industry, while a few travel between the two. Dr Shivkumar Kalyanaraman belongs to the latter group. From studying computer science at IIT Madras to working with IBM and Microsoft, his career has taken him through universities, research laboratories and corporate leadership. He is now at the helm of an institution entrusted with strengthening India's research and development system.Kalyanaraman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), an organisation established under the ANRF Act, 2023, to support and promote research across universities, colleges, laboratories and other institutions.AN IIT-JEE RANK HOLDER WHO WENT ON TO STUDY IN THE USBorn in Bengaluru, Kalyanaraman secured the third rank nationally in the IIT-JEE examination in 1989, according to an NDTV profile published in October 2026. He subsequently joined IIT Madras, where he completed his BTech in Computer Science in 1993.His academic journey then took him to Ohio State University in the United States. Between 1993 and 1997, he completed his master's and doctoral degrees in Computer and Information Sciences. He also pursued an Executive MBA at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), completing the programme in 2005.FROM UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR TO IBM RESEARCHIn August 1997, Kalyanaraman joined Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York as a professor. He remained there until December 2007, working in computer science and engineering. In January 2008, he joined IBM Research in India. His responsibilities included research and leadership roles in areas such as networking, wireless technologies and large-scale computing systems.His career at IBM also took him to Australia, where he served as Chief Scientist at IBM Research from 2013 to 2015. He later returned to IBM Research India, where he continued in senior research positions.A MOVE FROM RESEARCH LABORATORIES TO CORPORATE LEADERSHIPIn 2018, Kalyanaraman joined GE Power Conversion, where he worked on business development involving electric mobility, commercial and industrial solar power, and digital technologies.He joined Microsoft in 2020. Initially, he served as Chief Technology Officer for Energy and Mobility at Microsoft India. He later took up the position of CTO for the energy industry in Asia, a role he held until March 2025.His professional work has also received recognition from the scientific and engineering communities. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), and an ACM Distinguished Scientist.He was also named among MIT Technology Review's TR100 young innovators in 1999. His other recognitions include distinguished alumnus awards from IIT Madras and Ohio State University in 2021.WHAT IS HIS ROLE AT ANRFOn March 17, 2025, Kalyanaraman assumed charge as CEO of ANRF. The foundation's task is not limited to distributing research grants. It is expected to bring universities, government institutions, private companies, startups and other organisations together to support scientific work and its practical applications.Among its programmes is Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR), which seeks to strengthen research capabilities at universities through partnerships with leading institutions.Other initiatives include the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant and mission-based programmes in areas such as electric mobility and advanced technology.SARAL AI, demonstrated by Professor Ponnurangam Kumaraguru of IIIT Hyderabad, can help convert research papers into videos in multiple Indian languages. The aim is to make scientific information easier to understand and share.- Ends