Tarakranjan Gupta

My active skill sets, learning and exercising: 

• Innovation in Water Process and Product fit for purpose (time bound, membrane based) to address the unmet need.
• Water treatment for medical grade, potable and refinery effluent at different scale of operations. 
• New process development for energy optimized minimum water wastage (related to: ZLD, MD, FO, MPV, RO, NF)
• R& D in water process and product experience in leading technical projects with cross functional team)
• Leading Water Quality testing and trouble shooting.
• Leading External collaboration with consortium and university projects in South East Asia.
• Product development aligned to business strategy (Cost effective, energy optimized, Market need aligned)
• Technology evaluation, fast to fail and prototype/product development
• Technology and IP strategy for short and long term for water and solution.

Tarakranjan Gupta

About

I am a water technology leader with over two decades of experience transforming complex water treatment challenges into commercially viable, sustainable solutions. My expertise spans membrane separation, desalination, ultra-pure water for healthcare, wastewater reuse, and real-time water quality monitoring, backed by a strong foundation in R&D leadership, product development, and IP strategy.

I have led innovation programs that bridge science, engineering, and business — from conceptual research through pilot demonstrations to full-scale commercial deployment. My career includes leadership roles at Vantive, Baxter International, Livinguard Technologies, Shell, and GE, delivering measurable impact such as:

• Developing next-generation membrane distillation systems for ultra-pure water in renal care.
• Designing water disinfection and filtration systems meeting WHO guidelines for potable water.
• Establishing advanced water labs and pilot plants to accelerate commercialization timelines.
• Creating IP roadmaps that safeguard innovations and strengthen competitive advantage.

My leadership philosophy combines deep technical rigor with strategic foresight, ensuring that innovations are scalable, cost-effective, and aligned with global sustainability goals. I am passionate about advancing water solutions that create lasting value for industry, healthcare, and the environment.

 Experience

Senior Principal Engineer – Exploratory & Innovation, Water, Vantive

Vantive | Feb 2025 – Present | Bengaluru, India

• Lead global innovation initiatives in water technology, with a focus on ultra-pure water synthesis for healthcare applications.
• Direct exploratory R&D programs, from ideation through feasibility and prototype validation.
• Shape the long-term water technology roadmap to align with corporate strategy and industry trends.
• Mentor cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact projects on time and within budget.

Senior Principal Engineer – Water, Renal Care

Baxter International Inc. | Feb 2020 – Present | Bengaluru, India

• Spearheaded research, feasibility assessment, and process development for highly purified water systems in renal care.
• Developed membrane separation technologies tailored for medical-grade water production.
• Created and implemented IP strategy and roadmap to protect and advance water technology portfolio.
• Led pilot demonstrations and technology transfers from lab to manufacturing scale.
• Impact: Improved process efficiency, accelerated market readiness, and secured multiple patents supporting Baxter’s water innovation pipeline.

Vice President – Group & Product Development Leader, Water R&D

Livinguard Technologies AG | Dec 2018 – Feb 2020 | Navi Mumbai, India

• Directed R&D and product development for water disinfection and filtration systems targeting potable water markets.
• Enhanced performance of filtration systems to meet WHO guidelines through design optimization and process innovation.
• Managed cross-border engineering and manufacturing collaborations to scale production.
• Impact: Delivered improved water purification products, enabling wider adoption in underserved regions.

Program / Team Lead – Water Sensor & Separation, EcoWater

Filtrex Technologies Pvt Ltd (A Marmon | Berkshire Hathaway Company)

Aug 2017 – Nov 2018 | Bengaluru, India

• Led experimental R&D programs for real-time water quality monitoring using cost-effective and eco-friendly sensor technologies.
• Designed and developed advanced electrochemical and electrical response-based sensors capable of detecting analyte concentration changes with high precision.
• Developed sustainable and cost-efficient water purification processes for EcoWater product lines.
• Managed cross-functional teams to ensure projects were delivered on time and met performance targets.
• Impact: Enhanced sensor accuracy and reduced manufacturing costs, supporting scalable commercial deployment for consumer and industrial markets.

Founder, PHNiNE Private Limited

Jul 2017 –| Bengaluru, India (Remote)

• Founded and launched a specialized IP services firm delivering patent analysis, drafting, filing, trademark, design, and copyright prosecution.
• Built a team of highly qualified IP professionals combining subject matter expertise with strong legal and technical acumen.
• Established long-term client relationships across technology sectors, ensuring consistent growth and reputation over 7+ years.
• Impact: Created a sustainable business recognized for high-quality, technically robust IP services.

Activity Lead & Researcher – Experimental Water R&D, Shell

Shell Technology Centre, Bangalore

Jan 2008– Jul 2017 | Bengaluru, India

• Established Shell’s Experimental Water Laboratory in Bangalore, overseeing equipment procurement, commissioning, and operational setup.
• Led lab-scale and pilot-scale R&D to develop cost-effective selenium removal technologies for refinery effluents, ensuring compliance with evolving environmental regulations.
• Collaborated with Shell Catalysis and global refinery sites (Martinez, Scotford, Port Arthur, Frederica) to evaluate effluent streams and implement treatment strategies.
• Managed external research collaborations with the Indian Institute of Science, advancing selenium removal understanding through Raman spectroscopy studies.
• Oversaw technology evaluation, IP protection, and freedom-to-operate assessments for new water treatment processes.
• Impact: Delivered deployable, HSSE-compliant treatment solutions that mitigated environmental discharge risks and supported Shell’s sustainability commitments.

Key Skills: Industrial Water Treatment | Environmental Compliance | R&D Leadership | IP Strategy | Pilot Plant Execution

Intellectual Property Analyst – Chemistry & Polymer, General Electric

General Electric

May 2005 – Feb 2008 | Bengaluru, India

• Provided intellectual property support for GE’s Plastics and Polymer teams, including patentability assessments, technology landscaping, and freedom-to-operate analyses.
• Developed IP strategies to protect and commercialize polycarbonate and polyester products.
• Conducted competitive IP intelligence to identify market opportunities and mitigate legal risks.
• Created and delivered IP awareness training for technical and business teams.
• Impact: Strengthened GE’s patent portfolio, enabling faster commercialization of new polymer products; recognized with GE Management Award and Night on the Town Award for excellence in IP practice.

Key Skills: IP Strategy | Patentability Analysis | Technology Landscaping | Freedom-to-Operate | IP Training

Postdoctoral Researcher – Membrane Separation Science

ENSIC (École Nationale Supérieure des Industries Chimiques)

Jan 2004 – Jan 2005 | Nancy, France

• Researched and developed mixed-matrix membranes (polymer–inorganic composites) for gas separation applications including CO₂/N₂, CH₄/CO₂, and O₂/N₂.
• Designed, commissioned, and operated a membrane gas permeation unit for performance testing and process optimization.
• Advanced understanding of material–structure–performance relationships in hybrid membrane systems.

Key Skills: Membrane Science | Gas Separation | Mixed-Matrix Membranes | Lab Setup & Commissioning | Process Optimization

Ph.D. – Polymer Chemistry, Membrane Separation Science

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India | 1998 – 2004

• Research on novel low-cost hydrophobic polyurethane membranes: synthesis, kinetics, thermal properties, and diffusion behaviour.
• Developed polymer dense membranes for organic/water separation via pervaporation.
• Active member, IIT KGP Cultural Association.

M.Sc. – Analytical Chemistry

University of Calcutta, India | 1994 – 1996

• Specialization in analytical techniques, separation chemistry, electroanalytical methods, environmental and forensic chemistry.

B.Sc. – Chemistry (Specialization in Biochemistry)

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira (University of Calcutta), India | 1991 – 1994

Certifications

• Patent Information Specialist – GO Opleidingen, Netherlands (2005 – 2006) | Scored 10/10 | EP legislation, patent search, and prior art analysis.
• Intellectual Property Analyst – Fletcher Yoder Law Firm (General Electric), USA (2005 – 2007) | Certified in global IP analysis and patent evaluation.