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Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 24

Indian Oil Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Deakin University, one of Australia's leading universities with strong industry connections, aimed at strengthening research partnerships in India.

Dr R.K. Malhotra, Executive Director, R&D, Indian Oil, and Prof Lee Astheimer, Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Research), Deakin University, signed the MoU in Delhi recently.

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

The new partnership, an extension of the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), will bring researchers working with Indian Oil to Deakin under the Indian Oil Golden Jubilee Research Fellowships and vice versa.

There would be focus on research projects with high scope for commercialisation. Indian Oil R&D has so far developed over 3,500 lubricant formulations and commercialised 11 in-house developed technologies for different refining processes and products.

It has identified two projects in the area of environmentally friendly lubricants through this partnership. “We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with Indian Oil and announce the Indian Oil Golden Jubilee Research Fellowships,” said Prof Astheimer.

“At Deakin, we see DIRI as a very genuine and reciprocal partnership between our University and the Indian industry. We are very willing to help India train the young people it needs to meet the demands of its rapidly growing economy.”

FUTURE MARKETS

“At the same time we are aware that this partnership will help Australian industries find future markets in the dynamic Indian market place,” Prof Astheimer added. According to Mr Anand Kumar, Director R&D, Indian Oil, technology development should cover the total value chain and is a multi-disciplinary exercise and involves proper networking between scientists, industry and Government.

In today's economic scenario, companies have to lay emphasis on collaborative research to succeed.

Creating partnerships with institutes and industry overseas will not only enable leveraging best of research capabilities but also quickens the commercialisation of developed technology.

Indian Oil established its R&D centre in 1972 and has created facilities in all spheres of petrochemical, refining, lubrication, tribology (science of friction, lubrication, and wear), biotechnology and emissions.

MORE INVESTMENTS

An investment of over Rs 1,000 crore has been made till date. The centre, which has over 250 researchers, boasts over 320 patents and plans to invest another Rs 500 crore during 2007-12 towards R&D efforts leading to commercialisation.

The signing ceremony also witnessed an address by Prof Peter Hodgson, inaugural director of Deakin University's Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (ITRI), on ‘Developing effective industry-academia research partnerships'.

“We already have more than 20 postgraduate researchers from India within ITRI, based at the Geelong Technology Precinct at Deakin's Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds. They are enjoying working in Australia in a way that can enhance both their career and also add to the future economic wellbeing of India,” Prof Hodgson said.

More Stories on : Alliances & Joint Ventures | Research & Development | Education | Kerala

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