Prof. K. Kannan worked as a Vice Chancellor Nagaland Central University (2006-2011) established two new campuses in Meriema, Kohima and in Dimapur. School of Engineering, Technology and Management(SETAM) at Dimapur recognized by AICTE is the first ever program in the state of Nagaland. Established the permanent Headquarters of Nagaland University at Lumami, Zunheboto from interim headquarters in Kohima. Optical fibre internet in all campuses were established which enabled linking of Dimapur campus with IIITM, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala through Railtel network in 2008 and enabled NPTEL lectures for the first time in the country.
As the first Professor of Indraprastha University and Founder Dean of Biotechnology established the BTech/ MTech Biotechnology with innovative courses like IPR, Stem Cells in Healthcare, Cell and Developmental Biology and Marketing for the first time in the country in 1999. The ratio of applicants to selected students was 300:1through entrance exam in four years of establishment. In the first seven years nearly 80% of the students went on to do higher studies in USA and Europe. Many are permanent faculties in IISER, IIT or faculties in USA and Europe and few of them are entrepreneurs in USA and Europe. As National Convenor of Biotechnology for CBSE schools introduced Biotechnology as an optional subject for Central Board of Secondary Education (India) for class XI and XII in the year 2002. The text books and practical books was appreciated by the Nobel Laureate and President of Royal Society London Dr Aaron Klug FRS .
As a consultant helped start-ups Mahan Proteins to adapt imported whey protein technology to make Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC 80%) from buffalo milk in India for the first time in the year 1997, DSS ImageTech to diversify into DNA based diagnostics using FISH technology for the first time in India in the year 1998, Upstablish (Greenest) to create mock meat using textured vegetable protein having greater than 20% protein as Chief of Technology in the year 2018-2020.