Noida, Mar 11: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee and BITS Pilani signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster long-term collaboration in education, research, innovation, and advanced training across engineering and sciences. The MoU signing ceremony was held at the IIT Roorkee GNEC Campus, Noida, in the presence of senior leadership, faculty members, and researchers from both institutions.
The MoU was formally exchanged following remarks by Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, and Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani. Both leaders emphasized the importance of institutional synergies in addressing national priorities through interdisciplinary research, sustainable technologies, and human-capital development.
Under the agreement, the two institutions agreed to establish a comprehensive collaborative framework encompassing resource sharing, including access to laboratories, R&D infrastructure, faculty expertise, and participation of PhD scholars in jointly identified research areas. The MoU also facilitates joint supervision of PhD and Master’s students, collaborative student projects, faculty exchanges, sponsored and industry-driven research, and co-development of research proposals aligned with national priorities.
The partnership further provides for the organization of joint academic programmes such as courses, workshops, seminars, symposia, and collaborative academic engagements, along with cooperation in innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship activities, subject to institutional norms and mutual agreement.
As part of the programme, overviews of the R&D ecosystems of both institutions were presented by Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean (Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy), IIT Roorkee, and Prof. Shibu Clement, Associate Dean, Grants, Consultancy, and Industrial Research (GCIR)
Research and Innovation (R&I) Division.
This was followed by a interaction session on “What BITS Pilani & IIT Roorkee Can Do for the Nation”, moderated by Prof. R. R. Sonde, focusing on decarbonization and sustainable energy, AI–ML integration and digital twins in industrial systems, and ongoing hydrogen and sustainability initiatives at both institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. K. K. Pant noted that the partnership would enable pooling of complementary strengths to generate impactful research outcomes and skilled human resources.
Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said,
“This collaboration between IIT Roorkee and BITS Pilani brings together two institutions of strong traditions of academic excellence and innovation. By combining our complementary strengths in research, advanced infrastructure, and human capital, we aim to deliver impactful solutions across sustainable energy, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Such partnerships are essential for accelerating research translation, nurturing future-ready talent, and contributing meaningfully to India’s technological advancement and sustainable development goals”
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao emphasized that the collaboration aligns with BITS Pilani’s mission of industry-oriented learning and research-driven innovation with national relevance.
The event also saw active participation from faculty members of IIT Roorkee, including Prof. Anil Kumar Gupta, Prof. Sonal K. Thengane, Prof. Pratham Arora, Prof. Deep Kiran, Prof. Komal Tripathi, and Prof. Avinash Kumar. Representatives from BITS Pilani included Dr. Pratik N Sheth, Dr. Srinivas Appari, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sow, Dr. Saurabh Tiwari & Dr. Neena Goveas.
The MoU marks a significant step towards deeper institutional cooperation between two leading Indian institutions, aimed at advancing cutting-edge research, nurturing talent, and contributing meaningfully to India’s technological and sustainable development goals.
