[8][9][10] Ratan Tata was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), during the British Raj, into a Parsi Zoroastrian family, on 28 December 1937.

[22][23] In 2004 Tata met architect A. Quincy Jones who spent three weeks as architecture design critic at Cornell.

He achieved initial success by turning the subsidiary National Radio and Electronics (NELCO) around, only to see it collapse during an economic slowdown.

In response, Tata implemented a number of policies designed to consolidate power, including the implementation of a retirement age, having subsidiaries report directly to the group office, and requiring subsidiaries to contribute their profit to building the Tata group brand.

These acquisitions repositioned Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business, with over 65% of revenues coming from operations and sales internationally.

[37] On 12 January 2017, Natarajan Chandrasekaran was named as the chairman of Tata Sons, a role he assumed in February 2017.

[38] The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal later found in December 2019 that the removal of Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of Tata Sons was illegal, and ordered that he be reinstated.

In January 2016, he invested in Teabox, an online premium Indian Tea seller,[40] and CashKaro.com, a discount coupons and cash-back website.

[41] He had made small investments in both early and late stage companies in India, such as INR 0.95 Cr in Ola Cabs.

[44][45][46][47] Tata also launched a companionship startup for senior citizens named Goodfellows, to encourage intergenerational friendships.

Following this act, Sikh drivers in Punjab and other parts of India continue to remain loyal customers of Tata trucks.

[52] Tata supported University of New South Wales Faculty of Engineering to develop capacitive deionisation to provide improved water for challenged areas.

It aims to address some of the world's most pressing problems, such as the spread of infectious diseases and the need for sustainable food sources.

The research conducted at the institute focuses on a range of topics, including gene editing, stem cell therapy, and disease control.

[55] Tata Hall at the UC San Diego is a 4-storey building that is spread over 128,000 square feet and houses research facilities for the biological and physical sciences.

The scholarship fund will support approximately 20 scholars at any given time and will ensure that the very best Indian students have access to Cornell, regardless of their financial circumstances.

[59] Tata Hall is located in the northeast corner of the HBS campus, and is devoted to the Harvard Business School's mid-career executive education program.

The seven-floor structure is meant primarily as a business incubator for students, faculty, and staff, with 70% of the building being commercially leased and 30% devoted to academic space.

[61] In 2014, Tata Group endowed the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay with ₹950 million and formed the Tata Centre for Technology and Design (TCTD) to develop design and engineering principles suited to the needs of people and communities with limited resources.

[49][50][51] Cornell University paid tribute to its alumnus Ratan Tata, honouring his leadership, philanthropy, and contributions to education and research, particularly through the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition.

Over the years, Tata had served on the Cornell University Board of Trustees, personally advising the school's administration in matters of international involvement, particularly regarding projects connected to India.

[77] On 12 January 2017, Natarajan Chandrasekaran was named as the chairman of Tata Sons, a role he assumed in February 2017.

[88] Tata also received various state civilian honours such as 'Maharashtra Bhushan' in 2006 for his work in the public administration in Maharashtra and 'Assam Baibhav' in 2021 for his contribution towards furthering cancer care in Assam.