Abhay Karandikar has been appointed as the Director of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, while being on leave from his role as a Professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, where he previously served as the Head of the Department and Dean of Faculty Affairs. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Communications Network) from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Karandikar has led several national and institutional initiatives in technology, innovation, and partnership. He was the Chairman of India's first Telecom Standards Development Organization, aimed at developing India's telecom standards, and has been experimenting with TV White Space to provide broadband connectivity in rural and underserved areas of India. He has also steered the establishment of the IIT Bombay Research Park to foster an eco-system of innovation through industry-academia collaboration. Additionally, he coordinated the National Center of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security, focusing on the unique requirements of technology solutions for crime detection and prevention for state and central police forces.