IIT (K), ICMR join hands for joint research

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are collaborating for joint research, exchange of faculty and students as well as tapping into international scientists and entrepreneurs under ‘Global Initiative of Academic Networks’ ( GIAN).

The two institutes are also planning to jointly set up a research centre at IIT Kharagpur for long-term research, according to PP Chakrabarti, director of IIT Kharagpur.

But for now, the two institutes are collaborating to facilitate student exchange programmes for a short duration, such as summer/winter terms or short courses, or for a longer duration not exceeding two semesters. The tuition fee will also be waived off for students who participate in the exchange programme.

“This collaboration will facilitate doctors to study in an engineering and technology institution and engineers to study at ICMR, thus providing a platform for interdisciplinary academics and leading further to integrated research aimed towards promoting meeting the healthcare needs of the country”, said Chakrabarti.

The two entities will also explore joint research projects under IIT Kharagpur-led IMPRINT (IMPacting Research, Innovation and Technology) initiative in healthcare, ‘Signals and Systems for Life Science’. This initiative is likely to be funded by ICMR, ministry of human resource and development (MHRD), other Indian funding agencies and external funding agencies, Chakrabarti said.

Under the IMPRINT programme, IIT KGP (as nodal centre for Healthcare for all IITs, NIITs and IISc) and ICMR will work together to identify research and technology requirements in the healthcare space.

The two institutes will also jointly chalk out academic activities such as short course, seminars, workshops or conferences based on mutual interests and available expertise in both the institutions. The two institutes are also exploring joint research in technology for distance and computer-based learning.

ICMR institutions and medical institutions identified by ICMR will explore participation in the National Digital Library project coordinated by IIT KGP. Both institutes will also look at collaborations with other science and technology departments/medical institutes/IITs/universities.