Sanjay Sarma

Sanjay E. Sarma (born May 1968) is the CEO, President, and Dean of the Asia School of Business (ASB) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A recognized innovator in education and technology, Sarma also holds the Fred Fort Flowers (1941) and Daniel Fort Flowers (1941) Professorship in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). As MIT's first Vice President for Open Learning (2012-2021), he spearheaded transformative digital initiatives, including edX, MicroMasters, and OpenCourseWare, which have expanded access to world-class education on a global scale.

Sarma's impact extends to the field of RFID technology, where he co-founded the Auto-ID Center at MIT in 1999. The center's pioneering work established the technical standards that power modern supply chains, which are now used by thousands of companies worldwide. His work has shaped how industries operate, enabling greater efficiency and transparency on a global scale. In 2017, along with Linda Bernardi and the late Kenneth Traub, Sarma co-authored ''The Inversion Factor: How to Thrive in the IOT Economy'' (MIT Press), offering insights into the evolving role of IoT in business.

Beyond academia, Sarma has served as a board member for the MOOC provider edX and continues to influence the intersection of technology, education, and leadership. At ASB, his vision integrates sustainability, innovation, and business acumen, equipping future leaders to address the complexities of a rapidly changing world.

Early life

Sanjay Sarma earned his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 1989, before pursuing advanced studies at Carnegie Mellon University where he completed his Master's degree in 1992, specializing in operations research. He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1995, focusing on automation and systems optimization. Between degrees, he worked at Schlumberger Oilfield Services in Aberdeen, UK, gaining practical experience in energy technologies.

Personal life

Sanjay Sarma is the son of Dr. E. A. S. Sarma, a former Secretary to the Government of India, known for his significant contributions to social causes and the energy sector. He is married to Dr. Gitanjali Swamy, an accomplished entrepreneur and academic, and the daughter of Dr. Subramanian Swamy, a prominent Indian politician. The couple has one daughter.

Career

Sarma’s early career included roles at Schlumberger and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, where he gained expertise in energy systems and advanced research. In 1996, he joined MIT, beginning a career that would establish him as a leader in academia, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation.

In 1998, Sarma, along with Dr. David Brock, began work on RFID research. Subsequently, in 1999, he co-founded the Auto-ID Center at MIT alongside Prof. Sunny Siu and Dr. David Brock of MIT, and Kevin Ashton of P&G, with the objective of realizing the vision of standards-based RFID technology in commercial applications. The center was established as an industry-sponsored research project at MIT, aiming to develop a global open standard system for widespread RFID implementation. Initially serving as research director, Sanjay later assumed the role of chairman of research after Siu's departure.

Under Sarma's leadership, in collaboration with Kevin Ashton, the Auto-ID Center attracted 103 industry sponsors and established six research labs at major universities worldwide. The center’s efforts culminated in the creation of the Electronic Product Code (EPC) system, a suite of standards that revolutionized supply chain management and became a foundation for the Internet of Things (IoT). These innovations were transitioned to the nonprofit standards organization GS1, leading to the formation of EPCglobal, a "spin-off" organization created to oversee and further develop RFID standards. Sarma continues to serve as chairman of EPCglobal, which remains the global standards body for RFID technologies.

The Auto-ID Center was later rebranded as Auto-ID Labs, continuing its research into RFID and IoT technologies. Today, the standards developed under Sarma's guidance are utilized by thousands of companies across five continents, underscoring the lasting impact of his work in shaping modern supply chain systems.

Between 2004 and 2006, Sarma took a leave of absence from MIT to found OATSystems, a software company specializing in RFID solutions, which was acquired by Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP) in 2008. He has since served as a consultant and board member for various companies, including Rekor Systems (NASDAQ: REKR), and innovative startups such as Cleanlab (AI), Alsym (battery technology), IFM Investors, and Jimco. Sarma also contributed to the IPO of Aclara Resources (TSE: ARA) and served on the board of Hochschild Mining (LON: HOC). He remains actively involved as a permanent guest of the board of GS1 and a member of the board of governors of GS1 US.

Sarma’s research portfolio spans RFID, IoT, AI, energy systems, and sustainability, with practical applications in batteries, transportation, and smart systems. He has authored over 150 academic publications in areas such as computational geometry, manufacturing, CAD, signal processing, and security. He also played a key role in the development of India’s Aadhaar unique ID system, which underpins the country’s digital infrastructure.

Between 2010 and 2012, Sarma helped establish the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), a collaboration with MIT and the Singapore government. In 2012, he became MIT’s inaugural Director of Digital Learning and, later, Vice President for Open Learning. In this role, he oversaw groundbreaking initiatives such as MIT OpenCourseWare, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), the MicroMasters program, the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative, the Jameel World Education Lab, MIT xPro, and Horizon. He also served on the board of edX, a leading global MOOC provider.

Sarma’s contributions to education and technology have been widely recognized. His awards include the MIT MacVicar Fellowship, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Den Hartog Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Keenan Award for Innovations in Undergraduate Education, the New England Business and Technology Award, and the MIT Global Indus Award. He has also been featured on Business Week’s ebiz 25 Innovators list, Fast Company Magazine’s Fast Fifty, and received the RFID Journal Special Achievement Award.

Since 2023, Sarma has been leading the Asia School of Business, where he integrates technology, sustainability, and innovation into business education to prepare leaders for the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

References

External links

MIT profileMIT Office of Open LearningSanjay Sarma's website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarma, Sanjay
Living people
1968 births
Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering alumni
IIT Kanpur alumni
Indian expatriates in the United States
Indian mechanical engineers
MIT School of Engineering faculty
Radio-frequency identification
UC Berkeley College of Engineering alumni