IIT Delhi introduces ‘Pillay Chair Professor’ in the Electrical Engineering department

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has recently introduced the ‘Pillay Chair Professor’ endowed by alumnus Sanjay Pillay to strengthen excellence and leadership in teaching, research and development in Machine learning, VLSI Design and Sensors.

Sanjay Pillay completed his BTech (Electrical Engineering) in 1991, and his parents, brother and sister are also alumni of IIT Delhi. His wife and children are enthusiastic supporters for giving back to the institution that holds great significance to him. Pillay wishes to dedicate this chair to his loving and remarkable family.

Sharing his memories as a student at the institute, he said, “IIT Delhi has played an integral role in shaping the person I am today, and I will be forever grateful for the guidance, education, and experience I received here. It is an honor to support IIT Delhi, and my privilege to be associated with the establishment of the chair.”

Pillay is an entrepreneur, innovator, and technology leader. He specialises in functional safety and EDA tool development, audio, video, data compression, design analysis and fault coverage algorithms, SOC, DSP and Processor architectures and design, Low power (active and standby) implementations.

He founded Austemper Design Systems in 2015 which was acquired by Siemens AG. The company’s software includes analysis, auto-correction and simulation technology. This technology allows customers to test and harden IC designs for functional safety in applications such as automotive, industrial and aerospace systems where functional safety and high reliability are mandatory for compliance to safety standards like ISO 26262.

V Ramgopal Rao, director, IIT Delhi said, “I am happy to note that Sanjay Pillay and his family are endowing this chair in the department of Electrical Engineering. IIT Delhi is proud of its alumni who serve as role models for many in the younger generation. So many of our alumni getting connected with the Institute and giving back to their alma mater is a testimony to the high regard they have for their Institute and an acknowledgement of the role IIT Delhi has played in their careers. We wish them further success.”