The Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh Chair of Excellence will promote teaching, research and technology development in Aerospace technologies, Aircraft Structural Integrity & Aircraft Health Monitoring

Kanpur, September 10, 2021: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the Indian Air Force have joined hands in their endeavour to build robust technologies both in the academic and research front in the domain of Aerospace Technology.To mark the initiation of the partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Air Force and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was signed on 8th September 2021 at the Air Force Headquarters, New Delhi.

The MoU towards the establishment of the Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh, VSM Class I MBE, Chair of Excellence and Research Scholar Program (RSP) for Indian Air Force Officers was signed in the presence of Air Marshal Vibhas Pande AVSM VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM) and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director IIT Kanpur by Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Sharma, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Education) and Head of Education Branch of IAF and Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh, Dean Resources and Alumni, IIT Kanpur.

The rationale behind the partnership is to establish long term relationship for academic and research-based interactions and interchange of technical knowledge to foster knowledge development and promote breakthrough innovations in the domain of Aerospace Technology. This significant partnership between the IITK and IAF will create new forefronts and strengthen the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Mission and pave the way towards a self-reliant India.

Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director IIT Kanpur said “We are proud to be associated with the Indian Air Force for collaboration in research and training.. We are hopeful that the Chair of Excellence will set new benchmarks in this space with path breaking research initiatives.”

The Chair of Excellence will promote teaching, research and technology development in Aerospace Technologies, Aircraft Structural Integrity, Aircraft Health Monitoring, and other allied subjects in the fields of Aeronautics and Aviation. It will facilitate development of training programsfor IAFpersonnel which will provide platforms for dissemination of knowledge and novel ideas to innovate new technologies. This engagement will leverage the access of immense experience and knowledge of distinguished IAF officers among IITK faculty, researchers, and students.It will also provide research grant to Ph.D scholars of Aerospace Engineering of IITKworking in these areas.

The Research Scholar Program (RSP) will establish a framework for mutual co-operation between two participating organizations of national importance where in the qualified serving officers from the IAF will be eligible for direct admission to Ph.D, M.Tech and eMasters Programmes at IIT Kanpur. The officers will get the opportunity to undertake time bound research in the various departments of IIT Kanpur.It will aidin exchange of ideas and thoughts and independent research towards national objective.

The partnership will create a pool of think tanks with strategic knowledge and intellectual skills among IAF officers. The expertise and skill development of these officers would contribute in numerous ways to the nation. It will help to demonstrate new technology intervention and create awareness among the IAF officers to address their problems through interaction with IITK faculty members.

About IIT Kanpur:

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, established in 1959, is one of the premier institutions established by the Government of India. The aim of the Institute is to provide meaningful education, to conduct original research of the highest standard and to provide leadership in technological innovation. Researchers at IITK perform high-level research often at the forefront in its area. The diversity of research projects undertaken by IITK is a measure of the strong track record of research at IITK. It is the result of the great synergy between the fundamental research and applied research done at IITK.

The research environment supports highly creative work done by a small group. At the same time the environment is suitable for managing the large mission critical assignments that are undertaken at IITK. Leveraging the research capabilities of IITK can give research organizations the decisive edge they seek. The in-depth approach leads to outcomes that deliver lasting value. The IITK client list includes leading companies worldwide.