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IIT Bombay, India and Monash University, Australia recently announced the formal opening of the IITB-Monash Research Academy â a joint venture research academy that has been formally set up by the two premier academic institutes from India and Australia respectively.
This first-of-its-kind premier multi-disciplinary Research Academy will be located in a modern facility on the IIT Bombay campus.
It is seen as a flagship research venture by the senior leadership of both institutions.
Dr Alan Finkel, AM, Chancellor, Monash University, Australia said, "As the reputation of The IITB-Monash Research Academy begins to grow and as more organizations decide to collaborate with The Academy, we anticipate that The Academy will make significant contributions to business and society. This will, in turn, contribute to maintaining India's reputation as a leading-edge global research hub and Monash University's reputation as a leader in international education and research."
The Academy will be a not-for-profit, autonomous institution with an independent Governing Board and a high-powered Advisory Council, which includes captains of industry and research luminaries. Mr Narayana Murthy (Infosys) is the Chairman, and other members include Dr. Pawan Goenka (Mahindra & Mahindra), Mr. Prasad Menon (Tata Power), Dr V. Rao Aiyagiri (Department of Science and Technology), Sir Gus Nossal (Former President of the Australian Academy of Sciences), Dr Ramesh Mashelkar (Former Director-General CSIR) and Dr Edwin van Leeuwen (BHP Billiton). The Vice-Chancellor of Monash University and the Director of IIT Bombay are ex-officio members of the Advisory Council.
The Academy will engage in research that is theme-based, inter-disciplinary, and goal-directed and claims that the research outcomes will be of benefit to India, Australia, global businesses as well as society.
The Academy aims at:
1. Developing high-quality research capability to enhance knowledge in various fields of scientific endeavour to benefit India and Australia.
2. Undertaking theme-based, goal-directed and use-inspired strategic research in partnership with government and industry.
3. Building a strong cadre of high quality doctoral students, who will spend part of their candidature at Monash University in Melbourne and part at IIT Bombay.
4. Taking up projects of commercial significance in collaboration with industry in India, Australia and elsewhere so as to create significant research and commercial impact on a national and global scale.
The initial focus of The Academy is broadly based around six diverse cutting-edge Research Themes. These include Energy, Water, Biotechnology & Stem Cell Research, Infrastructure, Advanced Computational Engineering and Nanotechnology.
These Themes will together address the future R&D challenges of several Industry Sectors such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, infrastructure, biotechnology, life sciences, IT, financial markets, etc. The Academy hopes that the flexibility in the design of research programmes will permit the research community and the industry participants to produce high-impact outcomes.
The Academy plans to be a research facility with a strong applications focus. The high-end, modern and purpose-built research infrastructure at The Academy will also be employed to carry out contract research for industry.
The Academy also plans to produce a high quality stream of doctoral and post-doctoral research scholars, who will form the backbone of India's standing as a global R&D Hub.
Professor Richard Larkins, AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash University, Australia said, "The opening of the Academy ushers a new era of Indian and Australian scientific relations. This will lead to high impact research outcomes that will deliver a range of tangible economic benefits and long lasting societal benefits for both countries and the global community.
The concept and initiative has received strong interest from various companies mainly in India and Australia.
Funding commitments for research have also been received from industry. Industry can look forward to carrying out its long-term research through The Academy. At the same time, industry in India, Australia and elsewhere can develop its strategic talent pipeline through The Academy,
A joint PhD programme has been developed. This enables doctoral students to receive a joint accredited PhD degree from both Monash University and IIT Bombay. The students will be supported by attractive scholarships.
According to Professor Juzer Vasi, Acting Director IIT Bombay, "This is a major initiative for us. IIT Bombay and Monash University, through the Academy will be able to respond to the needs of the industry and society in India, Australia and elsewhere, and tackle the research challenges that lie ahead."
Mohan Krishnamoorthy, the acting CEO of The Academy, can be contacted at mohan.krishnamoorthy@adm.monash.edu.au
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