Amid fast-changing geopolitics in the South Asian region, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur for aerospace research and development.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the IAF and the IIT Kanpur to create new fronts in research and strengthen the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Mission to bolster the self-reliant India theme.
A chair titled ‘Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh Chair of Excellence’ will be established to promote teaching, research and technology development in aerospace, aircraft structural integrity and aircraft health monitoring for IAF officers.
“We are proud to be associated with the IAF for collaboration in research and training. The Chair of Excellence will set new benchmarks with pathbreaking research,” IIT Kanpur director Prof Abhay Karandikar noted.
He said that the pact would facilitate development of training programmes for IAF for dissemination of knowledge and novel ideas to innovate new technologies. This engagement will leverage the access of experience and knowledge of distinguished IAF officers among the IIT Kanpur faculty, researchers and students.
The Research Scholar Program (RSP) will establish a framework for cooperation between the two organizations wherein qualified serving IAF officers will be eligible for direct admission to Ph.D., M. Tech. and eMasters programmes at the IIT Kanpur.
The partnership will create a pool of think tanks with strategic knowledge and intellectual skills among the IAF officers. The expertise and skill development of these officers would contribute in numerous ways to the nation.