The Indian Institute of Technology – Madras has tied up with the Deakin University of Australia to conduct research in metallurgy and manufacturing materials.

The Centre of Excellence in advanced materials and manufacturing was officially inaugurated on Wednesday by Philip Dalidakis, Minister for Trade and Innovation, Victoria. The partnership with Deakin University happened because of the vision of a group of people. “In 1994, Deakin University reached out to the Indian market. It was the first Australian university to come to India. Today is the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people,” Mr. Dalidakis said.

The association with Deakin University was the oldest and most developed one, said IIT-M director Bhaskar Ramamurthi. The institute was keen that the centre take forward the relationship to research and development by including the industry and introduce “some really good innovation” that would reach the public.

The centre was housed in the research park “to constantly remind ourselves that the main goal is to achieve the outward thrust toward industry in the form of product and innovation start up,” Mr. Ramamurthi said.

B.S. Murty, professor at the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the institute, said the aim was not only to collaborate and have a tripartite programme and work with industry, but also to conduct joint doctoral and masters programmes.

Youngsters would be trained in materials manufacturing and metallurgy and the centre would also sponsor internships. Already, an alumna had offered to sponsor 10 students for internship at the IIT-M, especially from smaller universities in and around the city, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – March 15th, 2018