West Bengal, India: IIT Kharagpur signed two MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) with African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and Research for Resurgence Foundation (RFRF) on strategic collaboration and mutual cooperation in research, sharing of knowledge & resources. AARDO will cooperate with IIT KGP to achieve their common objectives in the field of agriculture and rural development through technological innovations, solutions, interventions and capacity enhancement to benefit and strengthen rural societies by establishing cordial ties, strengthening cooperation and initiating an association between the two organizations for the benefit of rural communities in Africa and Asia. With RFRF, it is a strong academic collaboration by mutually undertaking joint responsibilities and activities in their respective field of excellence, research, resources, knowledge and personnel along with effective and efficient engagement towards strengthening and streamlining research in scientific and technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Prof V K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur remarked, “These associations will augment a holistic growth towards building an inclusive technological amalgamation enhancing self-reliance, economic flexibility, community development and sustainable ecosystem. Channelizing knowledge transfer and access to domestic innovations will strengthen rural community and build solutions for them. IIT KGP’s frontier areas of research has contributed to various domains through affordable technologies and smart solutions and it will continue to do so.”