Knowledge Production and Knowledge Transfer: A Study of Two Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT, Madras and IIT, Bombay)

Institutions of higher education engaged in teaching and research have come to occupy an important place in the knowledge production and knowledge transfer. These institutions are now seen as frontiers of innovation and in capitalizing knowledge assets contributing to economic progress, and aiding national economies in international competitiveness. In this paper two Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are taken up for case studies. IITs in India have evolved as country’s leading engineering institutions over the last six decades. The structure of teaching courses and research in IITs, right from the beginning, has drawn inspiration from the MIT model. Over the last six decades, Indian IITs have acquired international recognition and a ‘brand name’ for excellence in teaching and producing quality engineering and science graduates. Through ‘human capital’ and research contribution, IITs have come to occupy a significant position in the Indian national innovation system, particularly during the last decade. The two institutions explored in this study, namely IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, are clear examples of the IIT system as whole. The major objective in this paper is to explore knowledge production and knowledge transfer in these two institutions. Our focus is laid on the ways in which institutional structures have progressed over the last decade or so to foster and promote university-industry linkages and enterprise creation. Secondly, our concern has been to explore the extent to which the Indian IITs have embraced entrepreneurial university ‘culture’ or still uphold the values of ‘Humboldtian Model’ of teaching and research excellence. Thirdly, to explore how the two institutes differ in the processes of knowledge transfer and enterprise creation.