[7][8] He is also the founding Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi Technical University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Born in April 1948 at Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, India, in to a Sanadhya Brahmin Family.
Sharma obtained his postgraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Birmingham (UK) in 1974.
In 2013, Sharma was awarded Honorary Doctorate of Engineering (Honoris Causa) by University of Birmingham, U.K for his distinguished contributions to the advancement of frontiers of knowledge in the areas of Green Energy Technologies and Knowledge and Innovation Management.
He has provided industrial consultancy to organizations including Rolls-Royce of the UK and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment in Bangalore.