New York, 19 May 2012

Prominent NRI Gujarati and advisor to the Prime Minister of India, Shri Sam Pitroda was honored with a Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa by Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly).

Shri Pitroda in his key-note address urged nearly one thousand undergraduate and graduate students to recognize technology as the key to social change and inclusive growth, not only economic prosperity.

Shri Pitroda said, “how do we use connectivity to address the challenges of the 21st century? India has been growing at a rate of 8-9% and everywhere, I see technology as the key driver.To me, technology is a great social leveler. Technology is the key in the 21st century.”

“The challenge of today is inclusive growth, access and equity. We need affordable, scalable, and sustainable solutions,” Shri Pitroda further said.

He advised the student that hard work and discipline is the key to their success, and there is no shortcut.

Having received an honor of a Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, Sam Pitroda joins a distinguished list of past honorary degree recipients including Dr. Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy.

Polytechnic Institute of New York University (formerly Polytechnic University), an affiliate of New York University, is a comprehensive school of engineering, applied sciences, technology and research, and is rooted in a 157-year tradition of invention, innovation and entrepreneurship: i-squared-e. The institution, founded in 1854, is the nation’s second-oldest private engineering school. In addition to its main campus in New York City at MetroTech Center in downtown Brooklyn, it also offers programs at sites throughout the region and around the globe. Globally, NYU-Poly has programs in Israel, China and is an integral part of NYU’s campus in Abu Dhabi. For more information, visit www.poly.edu.