La Trobe University expands India focus, appoints ASCRIN founder Aniruddha Desai

La Trobe University has appointed Aniruddha (Ani) Desai as its first associate pro vice-chancellor (research) India, a newly created role aimed at expanding research collaboration between India and Australia.

The appointment is expected to strengthen joint doctoral programmes, industry-led research projects and institutional partnerships between La Trobe and Indian universities. The move builds on its growing research presence in India through the Asian Smart Cities Research and Innovation Network (ASCRIN).

Founded by La Trobe in partnership with institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur , BITS Pilani and the Tata Institute of social sciences (TISS), ASCRIN has emerged as a major platform for collaborative research and joint PhD training between the two countries.

Growing India research engagement

ASCRIN currently involves more than 180 researchers from La Trobe and its Indian partner institutions. The network has approved over 100 joint PhD projects and recruited more than 70 doctoral candidates so far.

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The initiative focuses on research that can be translated into practical solutions for communities and industry. Areas of work include artificial intelligence, climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, urban mobility, energy transition and digital health.

Several ongoing projects address issues relevant to both countries, including AI-enabled transport systems, climate-resilient agriculture, smart urban planning tools, healthcare technologies and innovations aimed at improving India's dairy supply chains.

Focus on real-world solutions

Ashok Kumar, director of the IIT Kanpur–La Trobe research academy, said the collaboration demonstrates how universities in India and Australia can work together to tackle common challenges.

He said, “The IIT Kanpur–La Trobe partnership demonstrates how Indian and Australian universities can work together at scale on joint doctoral training and applied research in areas that directly impact urban sustainability, infrastructure, climate resilience and future technologies.”

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New phase of collaboration

Aniruddha Desai, founder director of ASCRIN, stated that the upcoming phase of collaboration will prioritise research aimed at delivering real-world applications and creating lasting benefits for both India and Australia.

“India is central to how major research and talent pipelines are being shaped globally, and the Australia–India relationship is increasingly focused on building joint capacity rather than traditional academic exchange alone. This means training researchers together and developing applied solutions in areas like cities, energy transition, climate resilience and health that are now shared strategic priorities,” Desai said.