New Delhi: IIT Delhi and Business Sweden-The Swedish Trade and Invest Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the field of Clean Air and Green Energy and to identify mutual collaboration opportunities, introduce innovative solutions to the industry and academia, considering continuity of India Sweden Innovations Accelerator Program and Sustainability by Sweden Showroom & Platform in India.   

The MoU was signed by Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Director IIT Delhi and Ms. Cecilia Oskarsson, Trade & Invest Commissioner of Sweden to India.

Prof. V Ramgopal Rao spoke about the need for clean energy that India requires to achieve its target pledged at COP26, Glasgow and to bring its economy's carbon intensity down to 45 per cent by 2030 and fulfil 50 per cent of its energy requirement through renewable energy by 2030.

Apart from collaboration on clean air and energy, the Director also spoke about the need to collaborate on other areas like smart grids and battery storage solutions, in order to transition from a coal-based economy to a renewable energy economy. He also spoke about the various start-ups being incubated at IIT Delhi in various technology domains, which present a huge opportunity for collaboration with the Swedish industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Cecilia Oskarsson, Trade & Invest Commissioner of Sweden to India, spoke about the opportunities for knowledge sharing and learning from Swedish industry, who are leaders in developing sustainable and innovative technologies in the area of clean air and Green energy, which are priority areas for GHG emission reductions. She also spoke about the Swedish Triple Helix model of innovation that can be used to foster collaboration between academia, industry and government and spoke about how Sweden has managed to cut back on greenhouse gases for years and is currently on a path towards its target of net zero emissions by 2045.

She also proposed academic exchange programs, cooperation with innovative solutions providers from Sweden and university level collaborations with IIT Delhi including joint R&D projects in the domain of clean air, energy, environment and urban development, etc.  

Prof S K Khare, Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi briefed about the research projects already running in collaboration with Sweden at IIT Delhi and spoke about the opportunities for future collaboration in other areas as well in addition to clean air and clean energy with the Swedish industry.

Prof Anurag Rathore, Dean, Corporate Relations, IIT Delhi spoke about organizing interactive events with the Swedish industry at IIT Delhi for promoting knowledge sharing and development of technologies that are India centric. He also spoke about the financial support from Swedish industry for promoting the joint research in new and high-priority areas.

Mr Ludvig Lindstrom, Country Manager, Swedish Energy Agency mentioned about the history of India Sweden Innovations Accelerator and Sustainability by Sweden showroom in India, along with over 200 pilot/ commercial projects established in India as part of the impact created by solutions introduced through these frameworks.

Mr Pawan Tahlani, Vertical Lead Sustainability and Climate Change, Business Sweden described about three main focus areas of this collaboration including industry-academia collaboration for co-creation of next generation solutions and university level collaborations for expertise and student exchange.   

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                                               Press Release Issued On : 27/11/2021