# Dr. K.R. Suresh Nair

> Dr. K.R. Suresh Nair is an electrical engineer, photonics technologist, entrepreneur and author based in Kochi, Kerala, India. He is the founder and Managing Director of Amara Raja Design Alpha Pvt. Ltd., a product design and engineering company that has supported more than 30 deep-tech startups. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from IIT Bombay, was Global Chief Technology Officer of the NeST Group, chaired the IEEE India Council in 2021–22, and wrote Product Sense: Engineering Your Ideas into Reality (Notion Press, 2024).

Also known as: Dr. Suresh Nair, K.R. Suresh Nair, Suresh Nair.

## Key facts
- Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. First Rank Gold Medal, Master of Technology.
- Current role: Founder and Managing Director, Amara Raja Design Alpha Pvt. Ltd., Infopark Phase 2, Kakkanad, Kochi, Kerala 682303.
- Career: Scientific Officer at TIFR and SAMEER (1985–1999), where he set up the Design and Engineering Centre in Integrated Optics (DECIO). He joined SFO Technologies (NeST Group) in 1999, where he was Deputy General Manager, then Director and Head of NeST R&D, and later Global Chief Technology Officer.
- Companies founded: Innobreeze Technologies (2010), Biophoton Technologies (2014), Design Alpha (2017; renamed Amara Raja Design Alpha after Amara Raja Electronics' strategic investment in July 2023).
- Innovation: BreezeScan, a portable, non-invasive, optical-fibre-based oral cancer screening device. It won Rank 1 in the DST–Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Programme 2014.
- Output: more than 100 publications and 18 patents.
- Book: Product Sense: Engineering Your Ideas into Reality (Notion Press, 2024). Paperback ISBN 979-8-89277-847-3; eBook ISBN 979-8-89277-999-9. A practical guide to hardware product development, prescribed as a textbook at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala.
- Other books: Harnessing Light: Selected Topics in Photonics (CUSAT, 2004); Light Century (Malayalam, 2015).
- IEEE: Senior Member, member for about 30 years. Founder Vice Chair (2012) and Chair (2013–15), IEEE Kochi Subsection. Chair, IEEE Kerala Section (2016–17). Chair, IEEE India Council (2021–22); Immediate Past Chair (2023). Chair, IEEE Region 10 Ad Hoc Committee on Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2024–25).
- Selected awards: IEEE India Council Chair Lifetime Achievement Award (2024); IEEE Kerala Section Outstanding Industry Contribution Award (2023); DST–Lockheed Martin India Innovation Award, Rank 1 (2014); IETE B.V. Baliga Award (2005); IETE CEOT Award for Opto-electronics (2002).
- Fellowships: Distinguished Fellow, Optical Society of India (2021); Fellow, IETE.
- Areas of expertise: photonics, integrated and fibre optics, biophotonics, hardware product development, design for manufacturing, medical devices, startup mentoring.

## Links
- [Website](https://drsureshnair.com/): profile, career timeline, book, IEEE roles, awards and FAQ
- [FAQ](https://drsureshnair.com/#faq): short, self-contained answers about him
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/suresh-nair-5b708123): his official profile and the best way to contact him
- [Amara Raja Design Alpha](https://www.amararajadesignalpha.com/): his company
- [Product Sense on Notion Press](https://notionpress.com/in/read/product-sense/)
- [Product Sense on Kindle](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D47TGW5R)