Bridging Academia and Industry: A Conversation with Prof Partha Pratim Das
In this interview, Partha Pratim Das, Professor of Computer Science and Founding Director of the Centre for Data Science and Analytics at Ashoka University, shares insights from his unique career journey that bridges academia and industry, emphasizing the challenges and insights gained from both realms, his passion for interdisciplinary research in fields like food computing, digital heritage and data science, and his vision for enhancing Ashoka’s academic initiatives.

Yukti Arora
18 October, 2024 | 5m readQ1. Your career has spanned both academia and industry, with roles ranging from faculty to CEO. What motivated your transition from academics to industry and also a subsequent return to academia?
I’m someone who enjoys exploring new avenues. I joined IIT Kharagpur in 1988 as a Computer Science faculty member and stayed until 1998. In 1993, I co-founded Kernel Computers, the institute’s first faculty-led startup, to bridge the gap between academia and industry. This dual role as an academic and industry professional taught me that it’s tough to manage both simultaneously. So, I left IIT in 1998 and started my own company, A Quaint Technology. Later, I joined Interra Systems as Engineering Head and worked there for 11 years. After realizing that industry thrives on customer focus, I decided to return to academia in 2011 to create industry-relevant courses. Teaching has always been my passion, and even during my industry years, I served as a visiting faculty at Calcutta University for eight years. Both industry and academia have their own charm, and I truly value my experience in both.
Q2. Could you share insights into the differences between managing academic institutions, and leading an organization in the private sector? How did these roles shape your leadership style?
In academia, there are three pillars: Teaching, where you shape students’ learning and mentor their personal growth; Research, where you identify relevant problems and work with students and colleagues to find solutions, contributing to your growth as a teacher; and Projects, where you secure external funding to support cutting-edge research.
In the private sector, the focus shifts entirely to the customer. I used to ask newcomers, “Why does a company exist?” The answer is simple: to make money, while providing value to customers. In industry, success is determined not just by creating solutions but by meeting customer requirements with high quality.
This focus on customer-at-the-center influenced my academic approach when I returned to academics in 2011. I viewed students as customers investing their aspirations, but this perspective wasn’t widely accepted in academia. Another key difference between industry and academia is that, in industry, it’s less about how you create a solution and more about whether it meets the requirements. Quality is a crucial factor. Balancing both worlds has shaped my leadership style to be outcome-driven and customer-centric.
Q3. Your areas of interest include data science, software engineering, food computing, digital learning, and digital heritage. What initially drew your interest to these diverse fields, and how do they connect to your current research?
My interest in computer science has always been driven by creating meaningful societal applications. Early in my career, I worked on automating the intricate design process of Indian silk sarees like Baluchari and Banarasi. After transitioning back from the industry, I wanted to explore computing in non-traditional areas. I delved into digital heritage, focusing on Indian classical dance like Bharat Natyam, using AI to create tutoring systems.
My interest in food computing stemmed from the link between food, nutrition, and chronic diseases. At Ashoka, I leveraged the interdisciplinary environment to develop digital food models that personalize nutrition and wellness, addressing why diets often fail. I am collaborating with the Trivedi School of Biosciences on various interdisciplinary projects. The concept involves digitally representing food and managing decisions like recipes, ingredients, nutrition, and wellness. It also looks after matching foods to individuals based on what’s beneficial for them. While dietitians recommend food based on health parameters, they often overlook enjoyment, which is why most diets fail after two weeks.
Data Science connects all these interests, allowing me to integrate computing techniques into diverse areas like humanities and social sciences. I’m not solely a data science researcher; rather, I apply its techniques to interdisciplinary fields, with the aim of enhancing the research potential across disciplines at Ashoka.
Q4. Having been at the forefront of software development and entrepreneurship, how do you think India’s tech industry has evolved over the years? What key factors do you believe have contributed to its growth?
India’s tech industry has grown significantly in numbers, but its impact remains debatable. Historically, it has largely been a service industry, learning from others and offering solutions based on those insights. Unique innovations like UPI framework and ISRO’s achievements stand out, but these successes are limited to specific areas.
India’s strength lies in its technically educated workforce with solid mathematical and analytical skills. However, overproduction of software developers has led to a major employment crisis.
During my first start-up in IIT Kharagpur, we had to convince the Board of Governors for several months for why a faculty should start a startup? One of my friends once told me a small story: a couple with two daughters were married. The younger daughter and her husband were highly respected in the society, because the younger daughter’s husband worked as a top executive in a company. Whereas, the elder daughter and her husband were not so respected because the elder daughter’s husband ran a company. The bottom line of the story being, the younger son-in-law worked in the company of the elder son-in-law. This story subtly describes the way society looked at startups. Hence, the mindset for entrepreneurship was very different back in the day.
Despite this, there’s been a positive shift in entrepreneurial mindset. In the past, startups were undervalued, but now they are gaining recognition.
I’m particularly hopeful about the potential in AI, where India can take the lead. Although societal perceptions are changing, with startups no longer looked down upon, we still need more leadership and innovation, particularly in the space of Artificial Intelligence, to truly make a mark globally.
Q5. What current projects or research are you most excited about, how do you see Ashoka University’s environment and resources contributing to the success of these initiatives?
Currently, I’m excited about food computing research at Ashoka, adopting an interdisciplinary approach by collaborating with the biology and sociology departments. Given food’s multi-dimensional nature, I’m working to make this a university-wide initiative while building partnerships with private, governmental institutions, and NGOs. I believe this is an area where Ashoka has a unique edge compared to other institutions.
Additionally, I’m focusing on interdisciplinary research using data science techniques. We’ve launched a unique outreach program called ‘Data Science for Social Impact’ to promote these efforts. Over the next two years, I aim to grow the Data Science Center at Ashoka, serving as an integrated platform across various departments to streamline data processes and promote better data science practices. This center will elevate our research capabilities and create a collaborative space for impactful projects.
Interviewee: Prof Partha Pratim Das, Professor of Computer Science, Ashoka University
Interviewer: Kangna Verma and Yukti Arora, Academic Communications, RDO, Ashoka University