IIT Kharagpur, Swansea Partner to Advance Smart Manufacturing R&D

In a major stride towards strengthening international academic and industrial cooperation, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP) and Swansea University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance joint research, academic exchange, and innovation in smart-manufacturing and materials engineering.

The partnership was catalysed by a visit from Mr. Tashi Gyaltsen, a representative of Swansea University, to IIT Kharagpur’s Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing Technology (CoEAMT) on 27 January 2025. Recommended by Tata Steel UK, the visit explored research synergies, facilitated knowledge-sharing, and laid the groundwork for long-term collaboration.

Deepening Research and Academic Exchange

As part of the next phase of the partnership, Prof. Surjya K Pal, Founder Chairperson of CoEAMT, is scheduled to visit Swansea University in July 2025. During this visit, he will deliver lectures and participate in strategic meetings with faculty members from the Departments of Computer Science, Materials Engineering, and International Education, to outline the roadmap for future cooperation.

“This mutual collaboration will drive major breakthroughs in advancing cutting-edge research in smart manufacturing and materials engineering,” said Prof. Surjya K Pal. “The MoU brings together the complementary strengths of CoEAMT IIT Kharagpur and Swansea, enabling us to leverage expertise in AI-driven manufacturing and materials innovation. We look forward to deepening academic exchanges, fostering joint research projects, and creating impactful industry partnerships that will benefit our faculty, students, and the broader engineering community globally.”

Driving Innovation Through Joint Initiatives

The collaboration will support knowledge transfer in AI-led manufacturing processes, enable co-funded research, and promote student mobility between institutions. For IIT Kharagpur, the agreement enhances global outreach, builds on its interdisciplinary strengths, and strengthens its position as a leader in engineering research and innovation.

Established as a national hub, CoEAMT is a premier research and development facility focused on next-generation manufacturing, automation, and materials science. Its ongoing partnerships with global academic and industry stakeholders underscore its leadership in advancing transformative manufacturing technologies.

Aligning with a Shared Vision of Global Impact

This MoU reinforces the shared mission of IIT Kharagpur and Swansea University to deliver real-world impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering academic excellence and industrial innovation on a global scale.