Rupnagar: IIT Ropar and the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh, on Tuesday signed an MoU to establish a broad framework for collaboration in research, technology, public policy, academic activities and capacity building.

The MoU was inked by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar Director Rajeev Ahuja and Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) governing body Chairperson Vini Mahajan, in the presence of Rupnagar Deputy Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal, according to a statement.

The partnership brings together CRRID's expertise in social science research, development policy and government-facing assignments with IIT Ropar's strengths in engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), data science and emerging technologies.

A key focus of the collaboration will be the use of AI and data-driven approaches for better public policy and governance. The two institutions will explore AI-enabled solutions to support evidence-based policy formulation, improve implementation and monitoring of public programmes, and strengthen impact assessment of government schemes.

The collaboration will span areas including rural and industrial development, agriculture, health, sustainability, urban governance, public finance, MSMEs and other emerging development challenges.

Under the MoU, CRRID and IIT Ropar will be able to undertake joint and sponsored research projects, jointly develop and test technology-enabled policy solutions, prepare proposals for the government, multilateral institutions, foundations and industry, and produce joint research publications, policy papers and reports.

The partnership also provides for conferences, policy roundtables, workshops, executive education and capacity-building programmes, with emphasis on building capabilities among government and public sector personnel in public policy, AI, data governance, technology adoption and programme evaluation.

The two institutions will also facilitate academic engagement through faculty and researcher exchanges, internships and research attachments, and mentoring or co-supervision of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral research, subject to their academic rules.

"This MoU brings together IIT Ropar's strengths in AI, data science and engineering with CRRID's deep experience in public policy and rural development. Technology works best when it is rooted in ground realities," Ahuja said.

Mahajan said the partnership would help bridge the traditional divide between technology and public policy, combining CRRID's understanding of institutions, communities and public programmes with IIT Ropar's capabilities in technology, AI and data science.