New Delhi: HORIBA India and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have entered a research-focused partnership to jointly work on three technology-driven projects under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
The project aims to address technical challenges in electric mobility, advanced materials and clean energy.
Focus Areas of the Partnership
The collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), will support three R&D projects led by faculty members from IIT Delhi. These include:
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Electric Vehicles: Development of a cost-efficient, high-torque electric vehicle (EV) motor that minimises the use of rare-earth magnets. This project is led by Dr Sagar Sarkar from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
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Smart Fabrics: 3D printing and design of smart fabric prototypes under the guidance of Prof Saptarshi Basak from the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology.
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Green Hydrogen: Research on a proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cell (H-SOEC) to produce green hydrogen at intermediate temperatures, led by Prof Suddhasatwa Basu from the Chemical Engineering department.
Broader Context and Objectives
The MoU was signed by Prof Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi and Dr Rajeev Gautam, President of HORIBA India. According to IIT Delhi, the collaboration is part of an ongoing engagement with industry to advance innovation in strategically significant areas.
The selected projects reflect national priorities in reducing dependence on rare-earth imports, scaling clean hydrogen production and exploring textile innovation through digital fabrication.
Institutional Role and Funding Framework
While the projects are being supported under HORIBA India’s CSR mandate, the company has previously provided equipment and learning tools for inclusive education at IIT Delhi.
This new partnership, however, shifts the focus towards applied research that aligns with industrial and environmental needs.
HORIBA India, a subsidiary of the Japan-based HORIBA Group, works across sectors including energy, environment, healthcare and semiconductors.
The partnership underscores a trend of academic-industrial collaboration where corporate CSR is being used not just for social welfare, but also to seed innovation in critical technology domains.