BIT Mesra and IIT Kanpur signed a five-year partnership on November 4 to boost research and academic cooperation. Professor Indranil Manna said the partnership marked an important step in BIT Mesra's efforts to promote academic excellence. Students and faculty will now use shared labs and join exchange programmes together.
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra (BIT Mesra) and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) have entered into a five-year partnership to strengthen academic cooperation, encourage research collaborations and expand opportunities for students and faculty members. The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 4, 2026, establishing a framework for joint research initiatives, student and faculty exchanges, specialised academic training and collaborative educational programmes. The agreement may be extended beyond its initial five-year term through mutual consent. The MoU was signed by Professor Indranil Manna, Vice-Chancellor of BIT Mesra, and Professor Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur.
Under the agreement, students and faculty members will be able to participate in exchange programmes, while research scholars may receive joint supervision from academics at both institutes. The arrangement also provides access to specialised laboratories and other research facilities, the introduction of joint academic programmes, and the preparation of collaborative research proposals for submission to national and international funding agencies.
Commenting on the collaboration, Professor Indranil Manna said the partnership marked an important step in BIT Mesra's efforts to promote academic excellence, meaningful research and innovation-driven development. He also emphasised the importance of strong educational institutions, skilled researchers and a capable workforce in achieving India's vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. By combining the research capabilities of both institutions, the partnership seeks to contribute to this national objective through collaborative research, technological advancements and the development of graduates equipped to meet emerging scientific and technological requirements.
The MoU identifies five major areas of cooperation, covering undergraduate and postgraduate research, student exchanges and internships, joint supervision of Master's and PhD scholars, academic programmes, and professional training for staff and administrative officers.
As part of the research collaboration, faculty members from BIT Mesra and IIT Kanpur will jointly supervise undergraduate research projects beginning in the third year of study. Postgraduate students will be eligible for similar collaborative guidance from their first semester. Students undertaking these projects may receive technical assistance from the partner institution and participate in planned academic visits to support their research activities. At the Master's and doctoral levels, scholars may be assigned two or more supervisors from the participating institutions, allowing them to benefit from expertise across different academic and research disciplines. The terms governing research funding, academic credits, residential requirements and intellectual property rights, including publications and patents, will be determined through mutually agreed arrangements.
The student exchange component will offer opportunities for summer and winter internships, short-term academic courses and specialised workshops at either institution. Both institutes may also jointly organise Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) programmes and micro-credit courses to facilitate academic knowledge-sharing. Other proposed activities include seminars, conferences, workshops and consultancy assignments. The agreement further encourages faculty exchanges, professional development initiatives and shared access to specialised research infrastructure, enabling academics and researchers to utilise resources available at both campuses.
The partnership also includes short-duration training programmes for administrative staff and officers of the two institutions.
The implementation of the MoU will be coordinated through designated representatives at both institutions. At BIT Mesra, Professor Raju Poddar, Dean of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (DRIE), will serve as the Coordinator, while Dr. Gautam Sarkhel, Dean of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS), will take on the role of Joint Coordinator. At IIT Kanpur, the coordination responsibility will be undertaken by either Professor Ashoke De, Dean of Academic Affairs (DOAA), or Prof. Jayandharan Giridhara Rao, Dean of Research and Development (DORD). An Associate Dean or a nominee appointed by the respective Dean will serve as the Joint Coordinator.