IIT-Kanpur, IAF enter academic collaboration
LUCKNOW : The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) and the Indian Air Force signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), at Air Force Headquarters, New Delhi, on September 8.
The MoU towards the establishment of the Air Vice-Marshal Harjinder Singh, VSM Class I MBE, Chair of Excellence and Research Scholar Program (RSP) for Indian Air Force officers, was signed by Air Vice-Marshal Rajeev Sharma, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Education) and head of education branch of IAF and Prof Jayant Kumar Singh, dean, resources and alumni, IIT-Kanpur. Air Marshal Vibhas Pande AVSM VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM) and Prof Abhay Karandikar, director, IIT-Kanpur, were present on the occasion.
The rationale behind the partnership is to establish a longterm relationship for academic and research-based interactions and interchange of technical knowledge to foster knowledge development and promote breakthrough innovations in the domain of aerospace technology.
This partnership between the IITK and IAF will create new forefronts and strengthen the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission and pave the way towards a selfreliant India, said the IIT-K director.
Prof Karandikar said, “We are proud to be associated with the Indian Air Force for collaboration in research and training. We are hopeful that the Chair of Excellence will set new benchmarks in this space with pathbreaking research initiatives.”
The Chair of Excellence will promote teaching, research and technology development in aerospace technologies, aircraft structural integrity, aircraft health monitoring, and other allied subjects in the fields of aeronautics and aviation.
It will facilitate development of training programmes for IAF personnel which will provide platforms for dissemination of knowledge and novel ideas to innovate new technologies, he said. This engagement will leverage the access of immense experience and knowledge of distinguished IAF officers among IIT-K faculty, researchers, and students. It will also provide research grants to Ph.D scholars of Aerospace Engineering of IIT-K working in these areas.
The Research Scholar Program (RSP) will establish a framework for mutual co-operation between two organisations of national importance where in the qualified serving officers from the IAF will be eligible for direct admission to Ph.D, M.Tech and eMasters Programmes at IIT Kanpur.The officers will get the opportunity to undertake time bound research in various departments of IIT Kanpur. It will aid in the exchange of ideas and thoughts and independent research towards the national objective. The partnership will create a think tank pool with strategic knowledge and intellectual skills among IAF officers. The expertise and skill development of these officers will contribute in numerous ways to the nation. It will help to demonstrate new technology intervention.