Ahmedabad: The Indian Army on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar to bolster collaboration in research, development, and academic exchange.

According to an official release, the partnership will enable IIT Gandhinagar to address the Army's specific operational requirements through innovation, training, internships, research, capability and knowledge building, resource sharing, certification, technology incubation, and joint projects.

The MoU was signed by Major General Mohit Gandhi, Commandant of the EME School, Vadodara, on behalf of the Indian Army, and Professor Rajat Moona, Director of IIT Gandhinagar, representing the institute.

“This MoU will allow Army personnel to participate in IIT Gandhinagar's academic programmes, seminars, webinars, conferences, and workshops on niche technologies, thereby enhancing their technical proficiency and innovation mindset,” the release stated.

The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge academic research and real-world operational needs, strengthening the Army's technological agility and self-reliance. It also provides IIT Gandhinagar with opportunities to apply its expertise towards national security and defence innovation.

The partnership marks a step towards establishing a robust civil-military research ecosystem, advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and promoting indigenous technology development, the release added.