Prithviraj Banerjee :- In the dynamic landscape of technology and innovation, Prithviraj Banerjee, affectionately known as Prith, stands as a luminary whose journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Born in 1960 in Khartoum, Sudan, his academic prowess and insatiable curiosity paved the way for a prolific career that spans academia, entrepreneurship, and leadership in some of the world’s foremost technology companies.
Prithviraj Banerjee’s Early Life and Academic Pursuits
Prith’s intellectual journey commenced at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, where he earned his B.Tech degree in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering in 1981.
Subsequently, Prithviraj Banerjee pursued higher studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, obtaining his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 1982 and 1984, respectively.
Banerjee’s foray into academia saw him serve as a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northwestern University, where a burning desire for practical application spurred him to venture beyond the confines of traditional academia.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
This frustration with the gap between academic innovation and practical implementation led Prith to embark on entrepreneurial ventures. During a sabbatical from Northwestern University (2000 to 2002), he founded AccelChip Inc., a company focused on electronic design automation. Under his leadership, AccelChip secured $2.3 million in financing and was eventually acquired by Xilinx Inc. in 2006.
Undeterred by success, Prithviraj Banerjee continued his entrepreneurial journey by founding BINACHIP. Inc., reinforcing his commitment to advancing electronic design automation.
Leadership Roles in Prominent Organizations
Banerjee’s journey took a pivotal turn when he assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Research at Hewlett Packard in 2007. Leading HP Labs, the company’s central research organization, he orchestrated a paradigm shift by focusing on fewer projects with substantial commercial potential.
His global perspective on research, with labs in diverse locations like India, Russia, China, and Israel, underscored his belief in tapping into local innovation tailored to specific markets.
In 2012, ABB Group appointed Prithviraj Banerjee as Chief Technology Officer, entrusting him with the responsibility of steering technology directions for the entire organization. Managing over 8000 scientists and engineers across seven ABB Research Centers globally, he played a pivotal role in shaping ABB’s technological future.
His tenure as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Schneider Electric from 2015 to 2017 showcased Prith’s ability to drive innovation and technology differentiation. Coordinating R&D activities across five businesses, he accelerated Schneider Electric’s R&D throughput and spearheaded the Innovation and R&D Simplification Programs.
Transitioning to Accenture as the Managing Director of Global Technology R&D in 2013, Prithviraj Banerjee continued his pursuit of technological excellence. Overseeing Accenture Technology Labs, he directed Accenture’s annual Technology Vision research, offering insights into the future of enterprise IT.
As of June 15, 2017, Prithviraj Banerjee assumed the role of a Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry, focusing on IoT and Digital Transformation Advisory Services within the Global Industrial Practice.
Awards and Recognition
Prith’s contributions have been acknowledged with prestigious awards, including being named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Noteworthy accolades include the Frederick Emmons Terman Award, the Taylor L. Booth Education Award, and the Senior Xerox Research Award.
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