BIT Mesra, IIT Kharagpur sign 5-year agreement to boost research, academic collaboration

The Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have signed an agreement to work together on research, education, and institutional development.

According to an official statement, the agreement will last for five years and can be extended if both institutions agree. They will work together on guiding PhD students, sharing laboratory facilities, developing and commercialising intellectual property (IP), and carrying out various academic and research activities.

"Working with IIT Kharagpur is an important step in BIT Mesra's journey to improve academics, promote meaningful research, and support innovation-led growth," said BIT Mesra vice-chancellor Indranil Manna.

"Through this partnership, we want to create more opportunities for our students and faculty. We also hope to support the country's priorities through joint research and technology development," he added.

BIT Mesra, IIT Kharagpur collaboration

As part of the agreement, the two institutions will also explore launching a joint integrated MTech-PhD programme and dual-degree pathways.

The partnership will include student and faculty exchange programmes, summer and winter internships, joint research projects, and collaborative proposals for national and international funding agencies. BIT Mesra students will also gain access to IIT Kharagpur's research infrastructure, specialised laboratories, and faculty expertise through the collaboration.

IIT Kharagpur director Suman Chakraborty said the collaboration would strengthen research and knowledge-sharing between the institutions.

"This MoU will help both institutions share knowledge, carry out joint research, and build skills. It will also benefit the wider academic community," Chakraborty said.

According to the statement, the collaboration aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation. The institutions will work together in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, energy, climate resilience, water resources, and defence technologies.

Both institutions will form a joint committee with members from both sides to oversee the partnership. The committee will review progress twice a year and discuss ongoing work and future plans under the agreement.