THEBUSINESSBYES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026

Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen research collaboration and strengthen academic and scholarly engagement, with semiconductors and basic sciences identified among the key areas of cooperation.

The MoU was signed on Wednesday by IIT Bhubaneswar Director Prof Shreepad Karmalkar and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Director Prof Sukumar Mishra.

The agreement provides a framework for joint research programmes and collaborative projects, reciprocal supervision of doctoral students and enhanced faculty interaction between the two premier institutions.

Under the partnership, the institutes will explore opportunities for faculty exchange, including Visiting Faculty and Adjunct Faculty positions, besides facilitating student exchanges for teaching-learning sessions, seminars and observerships.

The two institutes will also work towards undertaking joint research projects and seeking funding from external agencies. As an initial focus, they will explore research opportunities in the semiconductor sector, an area of growing strategic and technological importance.

The collaboration will further facilitate sharing of experimental resources and exploration of large-scale experimental facilities that can be jointly developed and utilised. Joint discussion meetings will also be organised to create a shared base of expertise and intensify research in identified focus areas.

 “Through this collaboration with IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, we seek to create greater opportunities for joint research, academic exchange and doctoral engagement. By bringing together our complementary strengths, we hope to foster meaningful research collaborations and advance knowledge in different fields of knowledge,” Prof Karmalkar said.

Prof Mishra said the MoU marked the beginning of a deeper journey of collaboration in research and academia.

 “By bringing together the strengths and expertise of both institutions, we look forward to building meaningful partnerships that create lasting impact and contribute to the advancement of science and society,” he said.

The partnership also provides for joint outreach programmes aimed at enhancing the visibility and reach of collaborative academic and research initiatives.

The MoU is based on the principles of reciprocity and mutual benefit, with the two institutes agreeing to exchange faculty, personnel and students in mutually identified areas.

The agreement will remain in force for five years and can be extended through mutual concurrence. Intellectual property generated jointly through collaborative activities will be jointly owned by the two institutes on a 50:50 basis, unless otherwise agreed upon through separate agreements.

Prof Subhransu R Samantaray, Dean-PG & Research Programs; Prof Vijay Shankar Pasupureddi, Dean-Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy; Prof Animesh Mandal, Dean-Alumni, Corporate and International Relations; Prof Shyamal Chatterjee, Dean-Continuing Education; Prof Umaprasana Ojha, Dean-Faculty Affairs; and Prof Chandrashekhar N Bhende, Head, Department of Electrical Engineering and Coordinating Head, School of Electrical and Computer Sciences, were present during the signing ceremony.

The collaboration marks a significant institutional framework for leveraging the complementary academic and research capabilities of IIT Bhubaneswar and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, with a focus on scientific research, knowledge exchange, doctoral engagement and wider academic interaction.