MHI and IIT Roorkee Collaborate to Accelerate Innovation in the Automotive and EV Industry
Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This momentous occasion was celebrated in the presence of Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, the Minister of Heavy Industries, and Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, who joined via video conferencing, signifying a major step in the union of academic research and industry efforts.
Representatives Prof. K.K. Pant from IIT Roorkee and Shri Vijay Mittal from the MHI signed the MoU, setting the stage for the creation of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) and an Industry Accelerator at IIT Roorkee. This collaboration is part of the Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector Phase II by MHI, targeting the development of innovative projects destined to transform the transportation landscape.
The initiative is supported by a significant investment, comprising a ₹19.8745 Crore grant from MHI and ₹4.78 Crore from industrial partners, bringing the total funding to ₹24.6645 Crore. This investment is expected to stimulate innovation by connecting academic research with industrial application, thereby advancing research, development, and implementation in the field.
Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey highlighted the critical importance of emerging technologies in enhancing the manufacturing sector and achieving self-reliance, as envisaged by the Capital Goods Scheme. He praised MHI’s role in bolstering India’s export capabilities and acknowledged the efforts of Uttarakhand and IIT Roorkee in fostering innovation.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his appreciation for MHI’s support of projects under the Capital Goods Scheme, which is of great benefit to the e-mobility sector in Uttarakhand. He also praised IIT Roorkee’s proactive engagement with startups and industrial partners, underlining the institution’s dedication to research and cooperative endeavors.
IIT Roorkee is celebrated for its commitment to innovation and excellence, making it an optimal partner for this initiative. The institute’s focus on developing transformative solutions is in line with the national ambition for self-reliance in the mobility industry.
In this collaborative effort, the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar plays a crucial role by providing essential testing, certification, and research services in the automotive sector. ICAT’s advanced facilities and expertise are instrumental in supporting the development and validation of new automotive technologies, including EV testing, as India moves toward greater adoption of electric mobility.
