By Tanmay Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Roorkee, June 20, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and WRI India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in sustainable battery ecosystems, the circular economy, critical minerals, clean energy transition, research, innovation, and capacity building.
The partnership is aligned with India’s broader goals of accelerating clean energy adoption, promoting electric mobility, improving resource efficiency, and building a self-reliant and sustainable economy.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy (SRIC) at IIT Roorkee, and Pawan Kumar Mulukutla, Executive Program Director for Integrated Transport, Clean Air and Hydrogen at WRI India.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Yogesh Sharma, Dean of Resources and Alumni Affairs at IIT Roorkee, and Chaitanya Kanuri, Program Director for Electric Mobility and Batteries at WRI India.
The Agreement was formally exchanged during the Battery Summit 2026 held in New Delhi.
IIT Roorkee and WRI India’s focus areas of collaboration:
The partnership will focus on several key areas, including sustainable battery technologies, electric mobility solutions, battery recycling and resource recovery, circular economy practices, and clean energy systems. Research and innovation, policy studies and stakeholder engagement, and capacity building and training programs.
Both institutions will undertake joint research projects, organize workshops and conferences, facilitate student and faculty exchanges, and promote knowledge-sharing initiatives.
India’s rapid growth in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and advanced manufacturing has increased the demand for sustainable battery technologies and resilient supply chains.
The collaboration aims to address these challenges through research-driven innovation and evidence-based policy support.
The initiative also supports national priorities such as energy security, resource efficiency, domestic manufacturing, and sustainable industrial growth.
IIT Roorkee director highlights the importance of collaboration:
Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, emphasized the importance of cooperation among academia, industry, research organizations, and policymakers in achieving a sustainable energy future.
He stated that the partnership would create new opportunities for research, innovation, and knowledge generation in areas such as sustainable batteries, critical minerals, the circular economy, and clean mobility.
He also noted that the collaboration aligns with national initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and India’s net-zero ambitions.
Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik said that the agreement provides an important framework for collaborative research, academic exchange, and capacity-building activities.
He noted that combining IIT Roorkee’s research capabilities with WRI India’s expertise in sustainable development and policy engagement would help generate meaningful outcomes and support evidence-based decision-making.
The partnership reflects the shared commitment of IIT Roorkee and WRI India to advancing sustainable technologies, fostering innovation, and supporting policy development.
By bringing together research, technology, policy, and capacity building, the collaboration aims to contribute to India’s vision of becoming a global leader in clean energy, sustainable mobility, and resource-efficient development.
EOM.
