Rolls-Royce, IIT Madras to collaborate for joint research programs

Aero engines major Rolls-Royce on Monday said it has entered into a collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to promote and explore opportunities for joint research programs.

The company will also roll-out a 'Technical Higher Study Framework' to facilitate higher education for its engineers, in partnership with IIT Madras, Rolls-Royce said in a statement.

An MoU has been signed between the company and IIT Madras for the collaboration. As part of the MoU, Rolls-Royce and IIT Madras will also aim to pursue advanced research in areas of relevance to future technological and programmatic needs of the company, it added.

"The association with IIT Madras is another step in our efforts to promote collaborative research programs with like-minded partners in India. We look forward to exploring areas where we can co-develop technological solutions," Rolls-Royce India and South Asia President Kishore Jayaraman said.

He further said, "at the same time, we are keen to leverage this collaboration with a premier technology institute like IIT Madras to promote upskilling and professional development of our engineering talent, and facilitate higher education and research in areas of strategic interest."

Commenting on the collaboration, Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research Associate Dean, IIT Madras, V Kamakoti said, "the interaction with Rolls-Royce will certainly induce multi-faceted interdisciplinary technology exploration involving the diverse specializations available at IIT Madras and mapping them into specific application areas of high practical value."

Under the collaboration, Rolls-Royce will sponsor select employees keen to pursue Masters and PhD level studies, as part of its Technical Higher Study Framework, in partnership with IIT Madras.

To qualify for the program, employees must first clear the IIT Madras selection process, and their topic should be aligned with Rolls-Royce strategic research priorities and capabilities, it added.

The program is open to all permanent employees at the Rolls-Royce Engineering Centre in Bengaluru who have completed 36 months of service with the company.

The initiative is in line with the company's efforts to promote growth and career progression for its engineering talent, it said.

Rolls-Royce selects 3 start-ups for Start-up Accelerator Programme in India

R2 Data Labs, the data innovation of Rolls-Royce, has identified three start-ups for its first-ever Start-up Accelerator Programme.

The start-ups, ClearQuote (Xenon Automotive), PiChain Innovations and Imaginate Technologies, will be given an equity-free grant of £10,000 each and put through a six-month co-innovation programme that will include mentoring and technical support from Rolls-Royce.

A jury of Rolls-Royce and ecosystem mentors selected the three winners from 15 shortlisted finalists.

"The India Start-up Accelerator Programme is a reinforcement of our faith in the potential of Indian start-up minds in creating innovative solutions fundamental to the digital future of the industrial technology sector,” said Kishore Jayaraman, President, Rolls-Royce India & South Asia.

Under the programme, Rolls-Royce will mentor the selected start-ups and offer them an opportunity to connect, collaborate and commercialise their projects.

The programme will be kick-started with the allotment of £10,000 of an equity-free grant to each of the start-ups, along with the prospect of strengthening their products and building a business strategy.

The start-ups will work closely with the Rolls-Royce team and also get an opportunity to collaborate with industry experts as they work through the development of a proof of concept. The initiative is in line with Rolls-Royce’s commitment to collaborative innovation and building an ecosystem of partners that harnesses the latest thinking and technologies from a wide community of innovators.