BITS Pilani appoints Mohan Krishnamoorthy as Amaravati campus director from January 2027

Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani has appointed Mohan Krishnamoorthy as the director of its Amaravati campus, effective January 2027. He will lead the development of the new campus, including its academic, research and industry ecosystem, with a focus on computer science, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

Krishnamoorthy is currently Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (India Engagement) at RMIT University and director of Industry Research and Interactive Learning Solutions (IRIS) at BITS Pilani.

The institute said the Amaravati campus will develop as a globally connected campus with a focus on emerging technologies and innovation.

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Krishnamoorthy shares campus vision

Commenting on his appointment, Krishnamoorthy said that being the founding director of BITS Amaravati was both a privilege and a responsibility.

He said, “To be given the opportunity to be the founding director of BITS Amaravati is both a tremendous privilege and an exciting responsibility. Building a campus from the ground up offers a rare opportunity to shape its culture, ambitions and place in the world from the very beginning."

He added, "For me, the real excitement lies in creating an environment where young people can think boldly, tackle consequential problems and use AI and technology to make a meaningful difference to industry, government and society. I feel incredibly fortunate to be at the beginning of a journey that can have a lasting impact on students, research and innovation, industry and, ultimately, the future of India.”

Krishnamoorthy is a professor of operations research and holds a PhD from Imperial College London. He has experience in higher education leadership, international partnerships, research, industry engagement and institutional development.

He was the founding CEO of the IIT Bombay–Monash Research Academy, where he helped establish the research and institutional ecosystem. He later initiated the UQ–IIT Delhi Research Academy and contributed to India-Australia research collaborations.

BITS Pilani Amaravati campus focus areas

As director, Krishnamoorthy will work on building the academic and research ecosystem at the Amaravati campus. According to BITS Pilani, the campus will focus on:

• Artificial Intelligence and data
• Robotics and advanced manufacturing
• Digital transformation
• Life sciences and healthcare
• Technologies addressing societal and environmental challenges

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Congratulating Krishnamoorthy, BITS Pilani Group Vice Chancellor V. Ramgopal Rao said his experience in academic leadership, research, industry engagement and international partnerships would be valuable for developing the new campus.

Rao siad, “His experience in creating new research and institutional ecosystems will be particularly valuable as we develop BITS Pilani Amaravati into a distinctive campus with a strong focus on emerging technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship. We look forward to his leadership in building a vibrant academic and research community and forging deep connections with industry and global partners.”

The institute said Krishnamoorthy will also focus on building a vibrant academic and research community and establishing connections with industry and global partners.