India | Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology

A strong relationship with academic institutions within the large and growing Asian markets, and India specifically, would help identify new demands to be addressed by R&D which would greatly benefit the University of Waterloo and WIN researchers. Such an agreement would facilitate joint research projects and open new avenues for international funding streams.

India has several national-level funding agencies to support fundamental S&T research, namely Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Department of BioTechnology (DBT) (analogous to NSERC and CIHR, respectively). Both departments have joint Canada-India funding opportunities through the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Transformation & Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS), to which WIN researchers are encouraged to apply to support research collaboration.

The university system in India is also well known for the very high calibre of undergraduate and graduate students, who are highly sought in international industry and graduate programs. The proposed agreement would facilitate student mobility, exchanges and recruitment of these excellent students to UW and WIN members, to advance knowledge and innovation in nanotechnology.

University of Calcutta

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Educational and Scientific Cooperation between WIN and the Centre for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CRNN) at the University of Calcutta for joint research activities of common interest in the general fields of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, exchange of faculty, students and information was signed in July 2018 to be in effect for a duration of five (5) years.

Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore

Professor Ajay Sood has been a valued member of WIN’s International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB), a committee designed to provide high-level strategic advice and direction, with members drawn from experts from the international scientific community.

Professor Ajay K. Sood is an Honorary Professor in Department of Physics at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He served as the President of the Indian National Science Academy, as well as the President of the Indian Academy of Sciences from 2010 to 2012. He also served as the Secretary General of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) from 2013 to 2018. He currently holds the position of the 4th Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India in 2022. WIN has benefitted from Professor Sood’s wisdom and expertise in this position since 2019.

Indian Institutes of Technology - Bombay (IITB); - Kharagpur (IITKGP); -Delhi (IITD)

WIN and Mitacs formalized an agreement to support international student training opportunities in nanotechnology innovation and commercialization. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) academic system was chosen as the first WIN-Mitacs partner to participate in this program, being an ideal testing ground for the program because of the high quality of students at IIT and dedication of the IIT partners. In February 2018, WIN Executive Director, Sushanta Mitra visited India for the signing ceremony of the agreement with Mitacs CEO Dr Alejandro Adem.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and Tirupati

In Fall 2018, WIN hosted the Directors of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and Tirupati, with the expectation that such interactions would facilitate the current university initiative under International Operations Council to shape the engagement with India.

History of WIN-India Activities and Initiatives

In February 2018, WIN Executive Director, Sushanta Mitra visited India for the signing ceremony of the agreement with Mitacs CEO Dr Alejandro Adem
In Fall 2018, WIN hosted the Directors of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and Tirupati, with the expectation that such interactions would facilitate the current university initiative under International Operations Council to shape the engagement with India