Sanjay Sarma

Sanjay E. Sarma(born May 1968) is the CEO, President, and Dean of theAsia 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 inMechanical Engineeringat theMassachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT).As MIT's first Vice President for Open Learning (2012-2021), he spearheaded transformative digital initiatives, includingedX, MicroMasters, and OpenCourseWare, which have expanded access to world-class education on a global scale.
Sarma's impact extends to the field ofRFIDtechnology,where he co-founded theAuto-ID Centerat 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-authoredThe 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 theMOOCprovideredXand 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.
Sanjay Sarma earned his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from theIndian Institute of Technology, Kanpurin 1989, before pursuing advanced studies atCarnegie Mellon Universitywhere he completed his Master's degree in 1992, specializing in operations research. He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from theUniversity of California, Berkeleyin 1995, focusing on automation and systems optimization.Between degrees, he worked atSchlumberger Oilfield Servicesin Aberdeen, UK, gaining practical experience in energy technologies.
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.
Sarma’s early career included roles at Schlumberger andLawrence 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 theAuto-ID Centerat MITalongside Prof. Sunny Siu and Dr. David Brock of MIT, andKevin Ashtonof 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 theInternet of Things (IoT). These innovations were transitioned to the nonprofit standards organization GS1, leading to the formation ofEPCglobal, 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 forRFIDtechnologies.
The Auto-ID Center was later rebranded asAuto-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 ofHochschild Mining(LON: HOC). He remains actively involved as a permanent guest of the board of GS1 and a member of the board of governors ofGS1US.
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 asMIT 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.