Joint research, student exchanges and shared facilities on the agenda
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, formalised a collaboration on Wednesday through a memorandum of understanding aimed at deepening research ties and academic exchange, with semiconductor technology and basic sciences named as the initial focal areas.
The agreement was signed by IIT Bhubaneswar director Prof Shreepad Karmalkar and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad director Prof Sukumar Mishra in a ceremony attended by senior officials from both institutions. The pact outlines cooperative activity across research programmes, reciprocal supervision of doctoral candidates and measures to jointly pursue external research funding.
“Through this collaboration with IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, we seek to create greater opportunities for joint research, academic exchange and doctoral engagement,” said Prof Shreepad Karmalkar, according to the institutes.
Prof Mishra described the MoU as the start of more substantive co-operation between the two schools, saying they would leverage complementary strengths to contribute to science and society. The agreement provides a framework for faculty exchanges, visiting and adjunct positions, and student mobility for teaching, seminars and observerships.
What the MoU covers
- Research collaboration: Joint programmes and projects in semiconductors and basic sciences.
- Academic exchange: Faculty interactions via visiting and adjunct roles, and student exchanges for teaching and seminars.
- Doctoral supervision: Reciprocal supervision arrangements for PhD candidates.
- Shared resources: Joint use and development of large-scale experimental facilities and shared experimental resources.
- Funding and IP: Joint pursuit of external funding and equal ownership of intellectual property generated jointly, unless otherwise agreed.
Officials present from IIT Bhubaneswar included Dean-PG & Research Programs Prof Subhransu R Samantaray and Dean-Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy Prof Vijay Shankar Pasupureddi, who are expected to play roles in implementing the collaborative research agenda.
Duration, governance and practical implications
According to one account of the pact, it will remain in force for five years and may be extended by mutual consent. The institutes have agreed to explore the development and joint use of large experimental facilities and to hold regular discussions to build expertise in the identified research areas.
| Item | Provision |
|---|---|
| Initial focus | Semiconductor technology; basic sciences |
| Duration | Five years (extendable) |
| Doctoral supervision | Reciprocal arrangements |
| Intellectual property | Joint ownership unless otherwise agreed |
For Dhanbad, home to one of India's older mining and engineering institutions now functioning as an IIT, the tie-up could broaden research directions beyond legacy strengths. Cooperation on semiconductors may open opportunities for postgraduate students and researchers at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad to access specialised expertise, instrumentation and joint funding avenues.
Both institutes said they would also undertake joint outreach activities to expand the visibility of collaborative initiatives. The memorandum envisages exchanges of faculty, personnel and students on the principle of reciprocity and mutual benefit.
Officials cautioned that the MoU defines the framework for collaboration; specific projects, timelines, budgets and operational details will be worked out by joint committees and through future agreements between the two institutions.
As India continues to prioritise semiconductor research and manufacturing at the national level, such institutional linkages are increasingly being used to pool expertise and laboratory resources. For stakeholders in Dhanbad — students, researchers and local industry partners — the pact sets out a formal pathway for engagement with a peer IIT and access to collaborative research platforms.
