IIT Madras partners with Energy Systems Catapult UK
chennai: in a significant move to accelerate clean energy innovation, the indian institute of technology (iit) madras has entered into a strategic partnership with energy systems catapult (esc), a leading uk government-backed innovation centre. the collaboration aims to drive sustainability through cross-border knowledge exchange, applied research, and commercialisation of clean energy technologies.the mou, signed on 13th may 2025, was announced at the iit madras campus in the presence of senior officials from both institutions. prof. raghunathan rengaswamy, dean (global engagement) at iit madras, joined prof. manu santhanam, dean (icsr), prof. satya seshadri, faculty head, and nikhil tambe, ceo of the energy consortium, along with mr. brendan o'neill, advisor at esc, and ms. babita sharma, senior net zero advisor at the british high commission, new delhi.energy systems catapult, established in 2015 by innovate uk, is a key player in the uk's net-zero transition, connecting industry, government, and academia to commercialise innovative solutions. as part of the catapult network, esc brings world-class expertise to this collaboration, which seeks to address pressing energy challenges and foster international cooperation.the partnership focuses on areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, electric mobility, green hydrogen, and smart grids. additionally, it will support policy innovation through joint workshops and studies tailored to both indian and uk contexts, benefiting startups and researchers from both nations.“the energy consortium's mission is to translate cutting-edge research into scalable, real-world energy solutions. this partnership aligns with india's sustainability goals and will contribute to global decarbonisation efforts,” said prof. satya seshadri, faculty head at iit madras.the partnership marks a significant step forward in iit madras's long-standing relationship with the uk in the energy sector, positioning both institutions as key drivers of clean energy innovation.