BITS Pilani Dubai Campus strengthens the UAE's evolving research and innovation ecosystem

BITS Pilani Dubai Campus (BPDC) reported 290 research publications during the 2025–26 academic year and secured a landmark AED 2.5 million industry-sponsored research grant from Human BioSciences Inc. (USA), underscoring its expanding role in the UAE’s research and innovation landscape. The campus also increased its doctoral cohort to 134 PhD scholars after admitting 25 new candidates, a 22.9% rise over the previous year and a compound annual growth rate of approximately 17.5%.

"The growing number of industry collaborations and funded research projects reflects the confidence that global organisations place in BPDC's research capabilities and our ability to deliver solutions with real-world relevance," said Prof. Shrikant Charde, Faculty-In-Charge, Grants Consultancy and Industrial Research (GCIR), BITS Pilani Dubai Campus.

BPDC’s publication output for the year comprises 140 journal articles, 93 conference papers, 25 book chapters, three books and 29 preprints, with nearly half appearing in peer-reviewed journals. The AED 2.5 million grant from Human BioSciences Inc. signals growing international recognition of BPDC’s capacity to partner with industry on applied research. Faculty achievements include an international patent for an AI-based machine learning solution that predicts nitrogen levels in wastewater — a development aimed at improving environmental monitoring — as well as work on wearable and implantable bioelectronics, healthcare technologies and photonic systems.

• Research and doctoral growth: 25 new PhD scholars joined in 2025–26, taking total doctoral enrolment to 134.
• Publication breakdown: 140 journal articles, 93 conference papers, 25 book chapters, three books, 29 preprints (290 total).
• Major industry grant: AED 2.5 million from Human BioSciences Inc. (USA) for an international research project.
• Notable innovation: International patent granted for an AI-based solution to predict nitrogen in wastewater.
• Startup incubation: Aayu AI selected for the Google for Startups programme, focusing on personalised healthcare through AI.

Faculty research spans artificial intelligence, healthcare technologies, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, photonics, advanced materials, sustainability, marketing, economics and management sciences. BPDC faculty members continue to publish in international journals, present at global conferences, secure patents and serve as reviewers for leading journals and conferences, activities the campus cites as indicators of its scholarly recognition.

"Our focus is on creating a research environment where faculty and doctoral scholars can pursue interdisciplinary work that addresses real-world challenges while contributing to global scientific knowledge," said Prof. S. Vincent, Associate Dean, Academic Graduate Studies and Research Division (AGSRD), BITS Pilani Dubai Campus. The campus also emphasises translating research into commercial and societal impact through its incubation ecosystem, where startups in healthcare, AI and deep technology receive support.

Looking ahead, Professor Souri Banerjee, Director, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, framed the campus’s strategy as aligned with national ambitions: "The UAE has created an enabling environment for research, innovation and entrepreneurship. At BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, we are committed to generating knowledge that benefits industry and society while supporting the UAE's vision of becoming a global leader in science, technology and innovation." Continued investment in doctoral education, industry partnerships and international collaboration is expected to underpin BPDC's contribution to the UAE’s evolving research and innovation ecosystem.