Dr. S. Srikantan

Electrical Engineer - Tamilnadu Electricity Board   

Immediately after graduation, Dr. S. Srikantan, joined the Tamilnadu State Government owned Tamilnadu Electricity board as an Electrical Engineer where he served for a period of 1 year.

Scientist - Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC)  

Dr. S. Srikantan joined as a trainee at the Atomic Energy Establishment Training School, Bombay in the year 1957. He worked in Dr. A. S Rao’s team during that period. From there he joined the Atomic Energy Establishment (B.A.R.C) in 1958 as a junior scientific engineer. Eventually, he became a group leader and under his leadership, the first Analog computer was developed, for simulating Nuclear Reactor Dynamics.

Dr. S. Srikantan in the year 1961 was promoted as a Scientific Officer and was sent to further his studies to the US with the guidance of Dr. Homi J Bhabha and support from the Government of India. He completed his Masters in Electrical Engineering and also completed his Ph.D. from Moore’s college, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the USA in the year 1964. Dr. S. Srikantan, returned to India after his Ph.D. and led a team of fresh graduated engineers and scientists as a group leader, to work on TDC-12 (Trombay Digital Computer – 12) ‘The first Indian-built electronic digital computer’ commissioned by Vikram Sarabhai at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, between the year 1964 – 1968 and the computer was released on January 21, 1969.

Head Computer Group - Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)

Dr. S. Srikantan was transferred to ECIL from BARC as a Scientific Officer to start the computer division of ECIL as the Head of the division. The main aim was self-reliance in the field of electronics and commercially exploit the designs of electronic equipment developed at Trombay. They started manufacturing digital computers for commercial use under his leadership. He was responsible for introducing a range of digital computers, starting from TDC-12 and eventually to the third generation computers, TDC-312, TDC-316 and TDC-332. He laid the foundation for ECIL as a commercial venture which started as an R&D activity at BARC.

Managing Director – Andhra Pradesh Electronics Development Corporation Ltd

Dr. S. Srikantan was appointed, as the Managing Director for the State owned Andhra Pradesh Electronics Development Corporation Ltd to the development of Electrical Components, Computers, Computer Peripherals, Telecommunication Equipment and Defense Electronics.

Managing Director – Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (KEONICS)

Dr. S. Srikantan worked as a Managing Director from the year 1983 – 1992. This was the period that the electronic industry got a strong hold in Karnataka and contributed a major role in the country’s overall production and export. KEONICS played the major role on putting Karnataka in the world map for Electronics manufacturing and as the outsourcing capital of the world. Dr. S. Srikantan quoted “KEONICS is a catalyst and not a competitor”. Under the leadership of Dr. S. Srikantan, KEONICS promoted the private sector electronic industries with the sole aim of developing the electronics industry.

Dr. S. Srikantan made several collaborations with the other industries for joint ventures. Several job training was conducted, which also included Women’s only training on electronics production in Sirsi and Madikeri helping to create Women entrepreneurs in the electronic industry.

The significant mile stones achieved during Dr. S. Srikantan, tenure as Managing Director of KEONICS:

• 1981 - 1985: Establishment of the first Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) in Electronic City. Establishment of Electronic City in Bangalore, which attracted companies like HP, Siemens, Wipro, Infosys, ITI, Motorola, TATA, NTTF, etc.
• Establishment of a TV manufacturing unit in Peenya Industrial Estate, Bangalore.
• 1986 - 1990: Establishment of a manufacturing division to manufacture wireless communication equipment in technical collaboration with Marconi Communications, UK.
• Establishment of joint ventures with multinational companies like Yokogawa Blue Star and Krone Communications.
• 1991 - 1995: Marketing initiatives of telephone instruments, small exchanges, stabilizers, UPS, Fax Machines, EPABX Systems, etc.
• Introduced training for technicians in servicing consumer electronic products.

Chairman - Yokogawa KEONICS Ltd  

Director - Krone Communications Ltd  

Chairman - ASM Technologies Ltd