S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Guwahati signed an MoU with Danfoss Industries Private Limited on 27 February 2025.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during InvenTiv 2025, the Global Innovation Showcase hosted at IIT Madras.
The pact
The MoU was signed by Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, and Mr. Ravichandran Purushothaman, Regional President – Danfoss Industries Private Limited, India, marking a significant step towards strengthening collaboration between academia and industry in the fields of sustainable technologies and advanced engineering solutions.
Key areas for collaboration
The collaboration will drive research and development in several technology areas, including:
Ø Water Desalination Technologies
Ø Energy-efficient Industrial Heating and Cooling Solutions
Ø Advanced Power Electronics and Drives
Ø High-pressure Pump Systems
Ø Waste Heat Utilisation and Campus Decarbonisation Solutions
Ø Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Systems
Ø Multiphase Flow Studies
Ø AI-driven Process Optimisation and Advanced Thermal Simulations
CoE at IIT Guwahati
A Center of Excellence (CoE) – Danfoss Solutions will be established at IIT Guwahati to coordinate and streamline all collaborative projects under a unified research umbrella, fostering innovation and efficient project management.
Opportunities
Additionally, the collaboration will also open new opportunities for internships, collaborative research projects, and training programs for students across B.Tech, M.Tech, MS, and PhD programs at IIT Guwahati.
Students will have the opportunity to work at Danfoss’s global facilities, gaining hands-on industrial exposure, with high-performing students eligible for Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs), say sources from IIT Guwahati.
Joint education program
Further, a joint educational program will be established between IIT Guwahati and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), in collaboration with Danfoss.
This program will provide students with international exposure, industry-relevant curricula, and opportunities for student and faculty exchanges, fostering cross-cultural learning and global research collaboration.
Director
Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said this partnership with Danfoss is a step towards IIT Guwahati’s vision of fostering innovation through collaborative research and industry engagement.
By combining cutting-edge research at IIT Guwahati with Danfoss’s technological expertise, we aim to develop solutions addressing critical sustainability challenges while preparing future-ready talent, he said.
Sustainable innovation
Mr. Ravichandran Purushothaman, Regional President – Danfoss India, said they, they are excited to collaborate with IIT Guwahati, an institution known for its pioneering research and academic excellence.
This partnership aligns with Danfoss’s commitment to driving sustainable innovation and nurturing a talent pool equipped to address global challenges in energy efficiency, water management, and climate technologies, he said.
Industry-Academia collaboration
The MoU signing at InvenTiv 2025 was held in the presence of Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Government of India.
Dr. Majumdar emphasized the importance of fostering industry-academia collaborations to drive innovation, particularly in the context of sustainable development and regional growth in the North Eastern Region.
He commended the efforts of IIT Guwahati and Danfoss for spearheading research and educational partnerships that will contribute to both national technological advancement and regional development.
Duration
The MoU will remain in effect for five years, with the possibility of renewal and expansion to include emerging research areas such as digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, and smart infrastructure solutions.
About Danfoss
Danfoss Industries Private Limited, part of the globally renowned Danfoss Group, is a leader in climate and energy solutions.
It is recognised for its expertise in energy efficiency, advanced industrial systems, and sustainable technologies.
With a strong commitment to decarbonisation, digitalisation, and sustainability, Danfoss is at the forefront of developing technologies for a greener future.
About IIT Guwahati
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, established in 1994, completed 25 years of glorious existence in 2019.
At present, the Institute has eleven departments, nine interdisciplinary academic centers and five schools.
They are covering all the major engineering, science, healthcare, management, and humanities disciplines, offering BTech, BDes, BSc(Hons), MA, MDes, MTech, MSc, MS(R), MBA and PhD programs.
The institute offers a residential campus to 455 faculty members and more than 8,600 students at present.
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