In a major move to bridge academic research with defence innovation, IIT Kanpur and Western Command of Indian Army have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in research, development and indigenisation. The MoU was signed on 20 June 2025 at IIT Kanpur campus.
The agreement was signed by Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director IIT Kanpur and Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Western Command. Prof. Kumar Vaibhav Srivastava, Acting Dean of Research and Development was also present. IIT Kanpur and Western Command collaboration will lead to joint research initiatives in various domains – engineering, physical sciences, biomedical sciences, management and social sciences.
IIT Kanpur and Western Command MoU: Academic-Defence Synergy
Western Command partnership with IIT Kanpur will facilitate meaningful engagement between academia and defence personnel through various means – co-development of technologies, knowledge sharing, joint projects, internships and specialized training. IIT Kanpur MoU also provides for enhanced educational exposure for Army officers and IIT Kanpur’s students and faculty to defence scenarios.
Speaking on the occasion Prof. Manindra Agrawal said, “This MoU is another step towards bridging academic research and defence needs. By working with Indian Army’s Western Command we will develop indigenous technologies and solutions for defence purposes.”
Prof. Srivastava said, “This MoU is a proof of the transformative power of partnerships between premier research institutions and Armed Forces. It will serve two purposes – defence innovation and academic insight.”
Innovation on Display
After the signing, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar was taken on a tour of IIT Kanpur’s innovation ecosystem. Hosted by Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor in Charge of Incubation and Innovation at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), the tour showcased various research labs and centres of excellence.
The visit included:
- Smart Systems and Operations Lab (SSOL) – by Prof. Deepu Philip
- Center for Developing Intelligent Systems (CDIS) – under Prof. Nitin Saxena
- Drone Centre of Excellence – by Prof. Abhishek
- UAV Lab – by Prof. Saderla
- C3i Hub – for cybersecurity innovations
Lt Gen Katiyar also interacted with faculty members including Prof. Abhishek Sarkar, Prof. Bishakh Bhattacharya, Prof. Shakti Singh Gupta and Prof. Bharat Lohani to discuss future defense oriented research and collaboration.
A highlight was the live demonstration of defense technologies by startups incubated at SIIC. Startups like TerrAqua UAV Solutions, Maraal Aerospace, DreamAerospace, Xterra Robotics showcased field ready solutions in UAV technologies, robotics and real time surveillance – solutions aligned to the tactical and strategic needs of Indian Army.
Prof. Deepu Philip said, “This is a great opportunity to apply academic knowledge and translational research to solve defense challenges. At SIIC, we are committed to mission oriented innovation and this collaboration will help unlock new areas where startup agility meets military grade application.”
Convergence of Knowledge and National Need
IIT Kanpur and Indian Army’s MoU is a milestone in academia-defense cooperation at a time when indigenisation and technological self-reliance is the national imperative. It aligns perfectly with the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense innovation and will yield solutions for battlefield scenarios, surveillance, autonomous systems and cybersecurity.
This marks IIT Kanpur’s transition from being just a centre of academic excellence to a driver of national development. Established in 1959 and declared as an Institute of National Importance, IIT Kanpur has been a pioneer in science, engineering and translational research. Its 1,050 acre campus has 19 departments, 26 research centres and over 590 faculty members and 9,500 students.
As India looks to build a defence-tech ecosystem based on indigenous capabilities, the IIT Kanpur-Western Command partnership is a model for institutional collaboration, innovation and national service.
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