Ikhlaq Sidhu has been the Dean of the School of Science and Technology at IE University in Madrid since 2022 and the founding faculty director of UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology since 2005. He is the author of Innovation Engineering and the creator of the Data-X Course at Berkeley. He holds over 60 patents in internet communication technologies and developed the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship, a framework used at UC Berkeley within the Entrepreneurship & Technology area.
Sidhu received the IEEE Major Education Innovation Award in 2018 and UC Berkeley's Extraordinary Teaching in Extraordinary Times Award in 2021. He was honored with the Berkeley IEOR Emerging Area Professor Award in 2009 and the 3Com Corporation’s Inventor of the Year Award in 1999. He serves on selected advisory boards and earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, along with a master’s degree and a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University. In 2023, he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering in Sweden.
Relevant Projects:
Think Tank Labs: Sidhu chairs the Think Tank Lab for AI and Exponential Technologies and in support of Open Science. It is a virtual lab focused on future technologies, architectures, policy, and related investment implications. The lab synthesizes insights from global faculty, tech ventures, executives, and policymakers, with affiliations including IE Sci-Tech Labs, Rise Europe, UC Berkeley Data-X, Applied Innovation Institute, and Innovation-Engineering. Results are archived in a digital Commonplace Book.
The IQ Series: The IQ Series is an innovative lecture series exploring the transformative implications of data, artificial intelligence, crypto algorithms, and related technologies. Designed as a next-generation course model within the Open Science movement, the series helps participants navigate complex, evolving landscapes by asking the right questions. The IQ Series is tailored for a global audience of students, entrepreneurs, research agencies, Ph.D. candidates, investors, professionals, and corporate strategists. Participants gain insights into entrepreneurial ideas, high-impact project concepts, Ph.D. research topics, collaborative opportunities, emerging technology trends, skill-building, strategic investment perspectives, and the legal and policy implications of technological advancements. Attendees can also connect with speakers and guests for guidance, collaboration, and potential ventures.
Virtual Asset Regulation Lab: The Virtual Asset Regulation Lab, a collaborative initiative by IE University and Ripple, focuses on research and policy development in virtual asset regulation. The lab aims to address the regulatory challenges of digital assets, blockchain technology, and cryptocurrencies, providing a platform for students, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to collaborate, explore regulatory frameworks, and foster innovation. The lab’s work includes analyzing regulatory trends, proposing policy solutions, and offering educational resources to support balanced, globally relevant approaches to virtual asset regulation.
Sidhu’s affiliations include UC Berkeley, IE Sci-Tech, the Qatar Foundation as a Board Member, and Rise Europe as a founding member.
