IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Sign MoU to Expand Research and Academic Collaboration
IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Sign MoU to Expand Research and Academic Collaboration
By Suman Munshi,IBG NEWS
Bhubaneswar, September 16, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, have entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding cooperation in research, academics and scholarly activities, with semiconductors and basic sciences identified among the key areas of interest.
The agreement was signed on September 16 by Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar, and Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. Senior academic and administrative officials from IIT Bhubaneswar were present during the signing ceremony.
Joint Research and Doctoral Engagement
The new partnership provides a framework for the two institutions to undertake joint research programmes and collaborative projects, while also enabling reciprocal supervision of doctoral scholars. Faculty members may participate in exchange and interaction programmes, including opportunities involving Visiting Faculty and Adjunct Faculty positions.
Students from the two institutes may also participate in exchanges involving teaching-learning activities, seminars and observerships.
The institutions will explore jointly funded research initiatives and seek support from external funding agencies. As an initial focus, the two IITs will examine opportunities for collaboration in semiconductor research.
Sharing Research Infrastructure
The MoU also provides for sharing of experimental resources and exploring the development and joint utilisation of large-scale experimental facilities.
Joint discussion meetings will be organised to build a common pool of expertise and strengthen research in identified focus areas.
Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar said the collaboration is intended to create greater opportunities for joint research, academic exchange and doctoral engagement by bringing together the complementary strengths of the two institutions.
Prof. Sukumar Mishra described the agreement as the beginning of deeper cooperation between the two institutions, highlighting the potential to combine their respective expertise to develop partnerships contributing to science and society.
Five-Year Framework and Joint Intellectual Property
The partnership also includes joint outreach programmes designed to increase the visibility and reach of collaborative academic and research activities. Faculty, personnel and students may be exchanged in mutually identified areas under the principle of reciprocity and mutual benefit.
The MoU will remain effective for five years, with an option for extension through mutual agreement. Intellectual property created jointly through collaborative activities will generally be jointly owned by IIT Bhubaneswar and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on a 50:50 basis, unless the institutes agree otherwise through separate arrangements.
The agreement is expected to provide a structured platform for the two institutions to combine their academic and research capabilities, facilitate knowledge exchange and deepen engagement in emerging scientific areas, beginning with opportunities in the semiconductor domain.
By Suman Munshi
IBG NEWS
