The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has conferred its Distinguished Alumni Award 2026 upon Prof. Sanjay E. Sarma, Fred Fort Flowers (1941) and Daniel Fort Flowers (1941) Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the category of Entrepreneurship & Management. The award recognises his pioneering contributions to RFID, the Internet of Things (IoT), technology innovation and digital education, as well as his distinguished impact as an academic, entrepreneur and institution-builder.

A graduate of IIT Kanpur, where he earned his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering in 1989, Prof. Sarma went on to receive a master's degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 1992 and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1995. Before joining MIT in 1996, he worked at Schlumberger Oilfield Services in Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Prof. Sarma is internationally recognised as one of the pioneers who helped transform Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) into a foundational technology for the modern Internet of Things. In 1999, he co-founded MIT's Auto-ID Center along with Sunny Siu, David Brock and Kevin Ashton. The centre developed the technical concepts and standards underlying the Electronic Product Code (EPC) system and modern commercial RFID. Subsequently adopted through GS1 and EPCglobal, these standards became widely used across global supply chains, enabling organisations to identify, track and manage physical objects on an unprecedented scale.

His research and entrepreneurial ventures have been closely intertwined. Prof. Sarma co-founded OATSystems and served as its Chief Technology Officer. The company developed enterprise software and systems for RFID applications and was acquired by Checkpoint Systems in 2008. He has also served on the boards of technology and industry organisations and advised companies and governments on emerging technologies, innovation and the Internet of Things.

Beyond his contributions to engineering and industrial innovation, Prof. Sarma has made a transformative impact on global education through technology. At MIT, he served as Director and subsequently Dean and Vice President for Open Learning. During his tenure, he led several major initiatives, including MITx, MIT OpenCourseWare, MicroMasters, MIT xPRO, the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab and the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative. His leadership helped expand MIT's global digital-learning ecosystem and advance innovative models for accessible, technology-enabled education.

In 2023, Prof. Sarma assumed the role of CEO, President and Dean of the Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur, serving until May 2025. He subsequently returned to his academic role at MIT and currently serves as an Eminent Visiting Professor at the Asia School of Business. He also continues to serve on its Board of Governors.

His research interests span RFID, sensors, the Internet of Things, manufacturing, computer-aided design, automation, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, energy and transportation. He has authored more than 150 publications and co-authored The Inversion Factor: How to Thrive in the IoT Economy, which explores how connected objects, intelligent systems and emerging business models are reshaping industries. He was also one of the principal authors of the original numbering system for Aadhaar, India's national digital identity programme.

Prof. Sarma's contributions have earned him numerous academic and industry honours. These include the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Cecil and Ida Green Career Development Chair, the Den Hartog Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Joseph H. Keenan Award for Innovations in Undergraduate Education and the MIT MacVicar Faculty Fellowship. His technological and entrepreneurial achievements have also been recognised through the New England Business and Technology Award, the MIT Global Indus Award, recognition among BusinessWeek's e.biz innovators and Fast Company's Fast 50, and the RFID Journal Special Achievement Award.

Through his pioneering research, entrepreneurial achievements, institutional leadership and commitment to digital education, Prof. Sarma has consistently bridged technological innovation with large-scale societal and commercial applications. His contributions helped establish RFID as a critical component of the global technology ecosystem, while his leadership in digital learning has expanded access to high-quality education for learners around the world.

In conferring the Distinguished Alumni Award 2026 in the category of Entrepreneurship & Management, IIT Kanpur honours Prof. Sanjay E. Sarma for his exceptional achievements in advancing technology, fostering entrepreneurship and transforming education, bringing distinction to his alma mater and inspiring future generations of innovators and leaders.