I am a socio-technologist, an engineer trained to understand and build large-scale systems that encompass both human and technological complexities (e.g., the Internet). I am motivated to design, build, and study solutions and ecosystems that improve the human condition. My career began as a research engineer at the Bell Laboratory, designing Internet switches and routers. Impelled by the desire to learn how technology influences policy, in turn society, and vice versa, I pursued a PhD in Engineering Systems (now IDSS) at MIT. My PhD work on how governments can balance regulation vs. innovation as new technological paradigms disrupt the old ones continues to remain relevant today. After graduating, I was fortunate to take on a role that aligned closely with my interests, spanning both the MIT Sloan School of Management, where I served as a Senior Lecturer, and the Tata Center for Technology and Design, where I was the founding Academic Director. My work was centered around teaching, research, and action on the challenges faced by resource-constrained environments. This work—particularly on innovations for underserved communities I often immersed myself into—eventually led to the opportunity to lead the Government of India’s Atal Innovation Mission for the past four years. During this time, we implemented several large-scale initiatives aimed at building India’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. For example, in 10,000 schools across India's 90% districts, we have set up Atal Tinkering Labs—creative maker spaces that have introduced Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship to over 11 million students. These efforts have helped India improve its position on the UN Global Innovation Index, moving up from rank 86 to 39. During India’s Presidency of the G20 in 2023, I chaired the creation of the Startup20 Engagement Group. Today, this group serves as the world’s highest policy forum that amplifies the voice of startups in the global economic discourse. Through these experiences, I’ve cultivated a strong interest in—and substantial expertise with—developing innovation and startup ecosystems at the institutional, regional, national, and international levels, with a focus on scalable impact and inclusive growth. I am educated broadly across engineering (BS and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering), arts (BA in Indian Classical Music), policy (MS in Technology and Policy), and systems (PhD).
Download CVCopyright © 2025 Chintan Vaishnav