The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Business Sweden-The Swedish Trade and Invest Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the field of clean air and green energy.

The MoU was signed by V Ramgopal Rao, Director of IIT Delhi, and Cecilia Oskarsson, Swedish Trade and Investment Commissioner in India. The MoU aims to identify opportunities for mutual collaboration, introduce innovative solutions for industry and academia, taking into account the continuity of the India-Sweden Innovation Accelerator program and sustainability through the showroom and Swedish platform in India.

Rao spoke of the need for clean energy to achieve the goal India pledged at COP26 in Glasgow to reduce the carbon intensity of its economy to 45% by 2030 and meet to 50% of its energy needs thanks to renewable energies by 2030.

The director of IIT Delhi also spoke of the need to collaborate in other areas such as smart grids and battery storage solutions to move from a coal-based economy to a renewable energy economy. He also mentioned the different start-ups incubated at IIT Delhi which present a huge opportunity for collaboration with Swedish industry.

Oskarsson spoke about the knowledge sharing and learning opportunities of Swedish industry, a leader in the development of sustainable and innovative technologies. It also offered university exchange programs, cooperation with innovative solution providers from Sweden and joint R&D projects in the fields of clean air, energy, environment and urban development.

SK Khare, Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi, presented existing research projects that are part of the collaboration and opportunities for future collaboration in areas other than clean air and clean energy.

Anurag Rathore, Dean of Business Relations, IIT Delhi, spoke about hosting interactive events with Swedish industry at IIT Delhi and promoting knowledge sharing and the development of India-centric technologies. He also referred to the financial support of Swedish industry for the promotion of joint research in new and high priority areas.

Ludvig Lindstrom, National Director of the Swedish Energy Agency, traced the history of the India Sweden Innovations Accelerator and Sustainability by Sweden showroom in India, as well as more than 200 pilot / commercial projects established in India in the framework of the impact created by the solutions introduced through these frameworks.

Pawan Tahlani, Vertical Head of Sustainability and Climate Change, Business Sweden, said the three main focus areas of this collaboration are industry-university collaboration for the co-creation of next generation solutions and collaborations at the level university for the expertise and exchange of students.