IIT Roorkee, BITS Pilani to collaborate on research and innovation, sign agreement

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS) have signed an agreement with the aim of strengthening collaboration in education, research, and innovation.

As a part of the collaboration, IIT Roorkee and BITS Pilani will work together across several areas, including joint research, academic exchange, and advanced training. The agreement also allows both institutions to share research facilities, laboratories, and faculty expertise. Students pursuing PhD and Master’s programmes may receive joint supervision, while faculty members will have opportunities to collaborate on research projects and industry-sponsored initiatives.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Kamal Kishore Pant, director, IIT Roorkee, and V Ramgopal Rao, vice-chancellor of BITS Pilani. Both leaders highlighted the need for stronger institutional partnerships to address national priorities through interdisciplinary research, emerging technologies, and the development of skilled talent.

The partnership will also support joint academic activities such as workshops, seminars, courses, and symposia. In addition, both institutions plan to collaborate on innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship initiatives, depending on mutual agreement and institutional policies.

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Kamal Kishore Pant, director of IIT Roorkee, said the collaboration with BITS Pilani brings together two institutions known for their strong legacy of academic excellence and innovation. He noted that by combining their strengths in research, advanced infrastructure, and human capital, the partnership aims to develop impactful solutions in areas such as sustainable energy, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Pant added that “such partnerships are essential for accelerating research translation, nurturing future-ready talent, and contributing meaningfully to India’s technological advancement and sustainable development goals.”

IIT Roorkee, BITS Pilani panel discussion focuses on AI, sustainability and energy innovation

During the event, the research and development ecosystems of the two institutions were presented by Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy at IIT Roorkee, and Shibu Clement, associate dean for grants, consultancy and industrial research at BITS Pilani.

A discussion session titled “What BITS Pilani & IIT Roorkee Can Do for the Nation,” moderated by RR Sonde, focused on areas such as sustainable energy, decarbonisation, artificial intelligence and machine learning in industrial systems, and ongoing hydrogen research.

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Speaking on the occasion, Pant said the collaboration would help both institutions combine their strengths in research, infrastructure, and human capital to develop impactful solutions and contribute to India’s technological and sustainable development goals.

The agreement was signed at the IIT Roorkee GNEC Campus in Noida in the presence of senior leaders, faculty members, and researchers from both institutions.