The Rice University Office of Innovation has appointed Sanjoy Paul as executive director of the Rice Nexus, the university’s premier innovation factory in the Ion that will offer state-of-the-art facilities for prototyping, testing and launching new ventures by Rice faculty and students. Opening this fall, the Rice Nexus is designed to derisk, develop and deploy new technology to bridge the gap between the university and commercial markets by fostering partnerships with key corporate, government, community and venture capital firms.
Paul’s distinguished career spans both academic and commercial research and development (R&D) with a remarkable track record in world-renowned organizations including Bell Labs, Wipro and Infosys. Before joining Rice, he led global R&D initiatives at Accenture, driving the advancement of cutting-edge technologies in AI architecture and algorithms, robotics, 5G and digital twins. He has also played pivotal roles in launching numerous startups, contributing to their success through world-class engineering and product development.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join Rice University’s Office of Innovation as the executive director of the Rice Nexus, where our collective work will help shape the future of technology,” Paul said. “Together, we aim to elevate Houston’s standing as a global leader in innovation by translating groundbreaking research into real-world applications."
Paul’s academic credentials are equally impressive, holding a bachelor’s degree in electronics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the Wharton Business School. As a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), his contributions to technology and innovation have been widely recognized and celebrated. With 95 granted patents and numerous awards, Paul is a recognized thought leader in the fields of AI, machine learning, networking, the Internet of Things and extended reality. His research has transformed industries such as manufacturing, energy, health care and space technology, making him a key figure in the global tech community.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Sanjoy Paul to lead the Nexus’ efforts in advancing innovation across Rice and the Ion,” said Paul Cherukuri, chief innovation officer and vice president of innovation at Rice. “I not only marvel at his remarkable accomplishments in academia and business, but I am also deeply impressed by his extraordinary ability to organize teams to solve complex industrial-scale problems. Sanjoy will undoubtedly propel us toward Rice’s goal of creating impactful solutions for the benefit of the world.”
Earlier this month, the university unveiled the first architectural renderings of the Rice Nexus, which will span 10,000 square feet across two floors in the Ion building.
