DCU signs major collaboration agreements with third-level Indian Institutes

Last week, DCU President-designate, Professor Brian MacCraith signed a collaboration agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Minister Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who was in India as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations, attended the event. Prof MacCraith led a DCU delegation which included Dr Noel Murphy, Head of the School of Electronic Engineering, Dr Satheesh Krishnamurthy of the School of Physical Sciences and Ms. Marie Heraughty, Head of International Affairs.

During this visit, DCU signed further agreements with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India’s premier research institute, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi and National Institute of Technology (NIT) Karnataka, Surathkal. A further agreement with Indian Institute of Technology, Madras will be signed later this month. Only the 1% of student in India qualify for admission into the IIT sector.

The new agreements are in line with DCU's strategic objectives to strengthen relationships with international partners and develop opportunities for research students to engage in research outside of Ireland as part of their PhD programme. The strengthened alliances will be of mutual benefit to academic staff, students and researchers in both Ireland and India.

Professor MacCraith said, "We are particularly pleased to establish formal alliances with top third- and fourth-level institutions in India, given its pivotal position as a rapidly expanding economy in South-East Asia.  India is one of the top-ranking countries in the world in the field of basic research. Indian Science has come to be regarded as one of the most powerful instruments of growth and development worldwide. The Government of India is very clear about the importance it attaches to research and innovation for the future of the economy and the benefit of its people.” 

DCU university has, by tradition, taken an outward-looking approach and has already established key relationships with universities in over 38 countries including China, US, Mexico and Australia as well as Europe.   There are currently 39 postgraduate research students from India in DCU, apart from 92 others on Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes and Post-Doctoral researchers in the key research centres in DCU.

Minister Ryan said, “Last year, the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Indian Department of Science and Technology established a programme of funding to support joint research projects. With our similar economic goals, these projects were focussed on key growth areas such as biopharma, biotechnology and renewable and sustainable energy. Last week’s signings were a major step in developing a strong educational alliance with our Indian partners. Educational institutions in both countries are renowned for their high-level research and innovation, and in working together their work will certainly be enhanced. There is mutual benefit to be gained from such collaboration, and I wish DCU and all of the Indian Institutes the very best in their future partnership.”

Minister Ryan, Irish Ambassador Kenneth Thompson and Professor MacCraith also met with Minister Chavan, Minister for Science and Technology in India and a team from the Indian Council for Scientific Research (CSIR) to discuss possible country to country collaborations.  Minister Ryan outlined his hope that Irish Institutions would meet with India’s expectations and that DCU as a young, innovative University was particularly well poised to lead on this.

Pictured: (back) (l-r) Minister Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, HE Kenneth Thompson, Ambassador of Ireland to India, (front)(l-r)Professor R.C. Budhan, Director of the National Physical Laboratory and Professor Brian MacCraith, DCU President-designate.