Honorary Advisor – GNDGU Center for RISE (Research – Innovation – Sustainability – Entrepreneurship)
Global Innovation Leader | Industrial Research Strategist | Sustainable Technology Visionary
Dr. Prashant Puri is an internationally recognized industrial scientist, innovator, and technology strategist with more than 35 years of distinguished experience in industrial and academic research spanning India and the United States. Throughout his illustrious career, he has successfully bridged fundamental science, engineering, and industrial commercialization to create transformative technologies, sustainable processes, and globally competitive businesses.
For nearly two decades, Dr. Puri served as President and Head of Research & Development at Aditya Birla Group – Grasim Industries Ltd., one of India’s largest diversified conglomerates, where he led innovation, technology development, new product creation, and process engineering initiatives for the Chemicals, Fertilizers, Agrochemicals, and Insulator businesses. Under his leadership, R&D became a strategic growth engine, delivering significant profitability improvements, breakthrough technologies, and new business opportunities.
Dr. Puri possesses extensive multinational industrial experience, having previously held senior research and innovation leadership positions at Unilever, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), and several global research organizations. Earlier in his career, he spent seven years in academic research at The Ohio State University and the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, USA, conducting pioneering investigations in catalysis, superconductivity, advanced materials, zeolites, and solid-state chemistry.
A prolific inventor and researcher, Dr. Puri has authored more than fifty international scientific publications and holds over sixty-five industrially active patents. His hallmark approach is to develop differentiated technologies and successfully translate them from concept and laboratory research to pilot scale, commercial plants, and market adoption. He has designed, built, and commissioned multiple chemical manufacturing facilities and large-scale industrial processes across India and internationally.
Among his most notable contributions is the introduction and commercialization of Neem Coated Urea Technology and Customized Fertilizers, innovations that have significantly enhanced nutrient use efficiency, improved agricultural productivity, and supported sustainable farming practices across India. He also established and commissioned a 150 TPD manufacturing facility for balanced nutrient fertilizers, water-soluble fertilizers, sulfur-based fertilizers, and bio-active organic fertilizers.
His expertise spans diverse domains including:
- Sustainable Chemicals and Specialty Materials
- Fertilizer Technologies and Agronomy
- Waste-to-Wealth and Circular Economy Solutions
- Energy Efficient Process Design
- Green Manufacturing Technologies
- Advanced Materials and Catalysis
- Industrial Biotechnology and Disinfection Technologies
- Technology Commercialization and Scale-up
- Corporate R&D Strategy and Innovation Management
Dr. Puri conceptualized, planned, designed, and executed the Aditya Birla Science and Technology Centre at Taloja, a world-class corporate research campus established with an investment exceeding INR 175 Crores. The center nurtured breakthrough programs in alumina extraction, cement technologies, chemicals, carbon black, fertilizers, and advanced materials.
Currently, Dr. Puri serves as a consultant to Grasim Industries Ltd., the Indo Rama Group’s European Division, and several other industrial organizations. His recent work focuses on environmentally benign and highly targeted biocides intended to replace toxic, carcinogenic, and alcohol-based disinfectants used in healthcare and hygiene applications. He is also developing innovative cleaning formulations capable of removing mineral deposits, molds, and water stains from glass surfaces to enhance transparency and durability.
Dr. Puri strongly believes that science and technology must improve the quality of human, animal, and plant life while simultaneously reducing environmental impact. His philosophy centers on creating innovative products and processes that consume less energy, generate fewer by-products, and transform waste streams into valuable resources.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Fergusson College, Pune, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pune. He has served on numerous research councils, government technical committees, and advisory boards, including CSIR-CSMCRI, the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI), the Ministry of Fertilizers, Government of India, BITS Pilani, and several institutional scholarship and evaluation committees.
His professional accomplishments have been recognized through prestigious fellowships and awards, including the Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Research Contribution from Hindustan Lever, the Welch Foundation Fellowship at the University of Houston, the Texas Center for Superconductivity Senior Research Fellowship, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Fellowship.
As Honorary Advisor to Guru Nanak Dev Global University, Dr. Puri contributes his extensive experience in industrial innovation, sustainable technologies, process intensification, waste valorization, advanced materials, and technology commercialization. He actively supports the University’s mission to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, foster entrepreneurship, establish centers of excellence, and develop future-ready scientists, engineers, innovators, and technology leaders.
“Innovation is not merely discovering new science; it is transforming scientific insight into sustainable solutions that improve lives, businesses, and the environment.”