The Hope Foundation and Research Centre (Hope Foundation) is a Public Charitable Trust established by Late Shri. Pralhad P. Chhabria in 1979 (The Year of the Child). Though this Foundation was initially supported by the Finolex Group as part of its CSR activities, Shri Chhabria has contributed and supported the objectives of the Trust; which pursues its charitable and social responsibilities in the twin fields of medicine and education.
A. Medicine – The Kalpana Mammography Centre (KMC), Pune which was the first mammography centre in Pune and the AIDS Project are a few of the medical projects that are undertaken by the Foundation. The foundation provides free medicines including life-saving drugs and treatment such as chemotherapy to the economically backward members of the society in the past. The HOPE Foundation has earlier worked towards strengthening medical, public health, biomedical and behavioural training programs to further Infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS research and prevention in India.
B. Education
- The Finolex Academy of Management & Technology, (FAMT) (famt.ac.in) was established with the sole purpose of providing higher educational opportunities to the children in the under-developing region of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The FIRST engineering college in Ratnagiri – FAMT started its B.E. Programs in 1996. Today, FAMT has 6 B.E. Programs and 2 Post graduate Programs and 2400+students. Worth mentioning here are two achievements of FAMT – 36% of these students are females who are pursuing their engineering degree. Over the last few years, FAMT has had number of students who have been awarded Gold and Silver Medals in various departments by the University of Mumbai.The Academy is approved by the AICTE, New Delhi, recognised by DTE, Maharashtra and affiliated to Mumbai University.
2. International Institute of Information Technology, I²IT, Pune (isquareit.edu.in) – In the late 1990s, to control the out flux of graduates as well as to reduce if not arrest the brain drain to US and European countries, Shri. Pralhad P. Chhabria the then President of MCCI(A), Pune decided to create International Institute of Information Technology popularly known as I2IT (pronounced I Square IT) a graduate school. Built in the IT hub Hinjawadi, Pune, Shri Pralhad P Chhabria sought advice from scientists like Padma Vibhushan Dr R A Mashelkar and Padma Shri Dr Vijay P Bhatkar. On 28th May 2003, Bharat Ratna Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, the then President of India, visited I2IT and dedicated this institute to the service of the nation. I2IT began by offering Master Level Programs in niche domains like Embedded Systems Design, Smart Card Technologies, Microelectronics & VLSI Design, Wireless Technologies, Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics, Intelligent Systems & Robotics, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Automotive Engineering, Space Systems and Satellite Communications, Biotechnology / Bioinformatics, Stem Cell Biology, Molecular Medicine, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Oil & Gas Engineering, Oil & Gas Management and Public Health. I2IT became synonymous with niche and research driven programs. Students from various countries like France, China, Korea, Thailand, South Africa, Indonesia, and Sudan have been accepted to pursue their studies on campus in Pune.
In 2011, I²IT established undergraduate engineering programs in Software, Electronic & Telecommunications and Information Technology. The institute is approved by the AICTE, New Delhi, recognised by DTE, Maharashtra and affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University (Formerly known as University of Pune)
3. Pralhad P Chhabria Research Center“Pralhad P. Chhabria Research Center (PPCRC),” (ppcrc.in) has been established in the memory of Late Shri. Pralhad P. Chhabria, the iconic businessman and the Founder Chairman of Finolex Group of Companies. PPCRC’s intent is to advance knowledge through research and provide education & training in Science, Engineering, and Technology, to serve India and the world. PPCRC focuses on research and convergence of Information Technology, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Cognitive Technology. The research areas are grouped under major themes of Intelligent Systems, Engineering Systems, Electronic & Photonic Systems, Neuro Systems and Applied Materials Systems. The center offers programs based on the research outcomes for professionals working in industry to enhance their knowledge and skills to adapt themselves to the ever transforming world of technology.