THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 28, 2026

The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) to strengthen academic research in arts, culture and architecture, besides promoting the digitisation of historical archival materials related to India's rich heritage.

The agreement was signed at KIIT Campus 6 here by IGNCA Member Secretary Dr Sachchidanand Joshi on behalf of the autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture and KIIT Vice-Chancellor Prof Saranjit Singh, in the presence of KIIT and KISS founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta.

The collaboration is expected to open up new avenues for joint academic programmes, research projects and exchange initiatives involving students and faculty members of the two institutions, with a particular focus on documenting, preserving and disseminating India's cultural heritage.

Speaking on the occasion, Joshi expressed gratitude for the initiative and lauded KIIT's contribution to education and cultural activities. He said the partnership would benefit students pursuing studies in arts, culture and allied disciplines, particularly in Odisha, which is renowned for its rich cultural traditions.

The collaboration would also facilitate new initiatives in cultural documentation and archival preservation, he said, while acknowledging Samanta's contributions to education, art and culture.

Describing the agreement as a historic step in the field of arts and cultural studies, KIIT Senior Director General Prof. Soumyendu Shankar Ray said it would promote academic exchange and research opportunities between the two prestigious institutions.

As part of the ceremony, Joshi presented a copy of his book, The Cultural Renaissance, to Samanta.

The MoU seeks to bridge higher education and cultural research by encouraging interdisciplinary studies and leveraging digital technologies to preserve historical records and make archival resources more accessible to researchers, students and the wider public.

The partnership is also expected to strengthen institutional cooperation in the study of Indian art, architecture and cultural traditions, while creating opportunities for collaborative research and knowledge-sharing.

Among those present were IGNCA representatives Dr. Abhay Mishra and Shankarjeet Dey; KIIT Pro-Vice-Chancellors Prof. Debashis Bandyopadhyay and Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty; and Padma Shri awardee Adwaita Gadanayak, Director General of the KIIT Art Academy.