Signing of MoU with NALCO

A broad-based Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IIT Bhubaneswar and the National Aluminium Company (NALCO) on 15th April 2017 in the NALCO Bhavan, in presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram and Union Minister for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines Shri Piyush Goyal; Managing Director of NALCO, Dr. T K Chand; a team of faculty members of IIT Bhubaneswar and other dignitaries. The MoU was signed by Prof. R K Panda, Dean (R&D) on behalf of IIT Bhubaneswar and Shri Subrat Kar, General Manager (R&D) on behalf of NALCO. The MoU will facilitate need-based collaboration to address the issues of mutual interest to IIT Bhubaneswar and NALCO, e.g. Continuing Education for Skill Development of NALCO technical personnel, internship for students of IIT Bhubaneswar, skill development programmes for training of the under-privileged beneficiaries, development of state-of-the-art laboratories at IIT Bhubaneswar and NALCO’s R&D centers, promotion of a vibrant culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

IIT Bhubaneswar is already involved in addressing issues of NALCO pertaining to use of industrial wastes like redmud and flyash to replace the cement as construction material. Our Director, Prof. R V Raja Kumar, who had to leave the meeting before signing of MoU for another important meeting, is optimistic that the MoU will take the on-going collaboration between IIT Bhubaneswar and NALCO to the next level.