Technology and services provider Bosch India has enhanced its partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on October 28, 2015. Through this MoU Bosch and IISc will collaborate to address India-centric requirements. The signed MoUs were exchanged between Bosch and IISc in the presence of the president of India, Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi on November 4, 2015.

Commenting on this development, Dr Steffen Berns, president of Bosch Group in India, said, “Based on this MoU we intend to develop solutions that address key India-centric requirements. Innovation has always been a special strength of Bosch. This partnership between industry and academia further enforces our ties with the IISc and underlines our commitment towards local innovations, according to our slogan ‘Invented for life’. We expect to see positive results as we collaborate in research on areas of strategic interest, such as mobility, healthcare, energy and water.”

Professor Anurag Kumar, Director, IISC said, “Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber Physical Systems at IISc has helped define a trail for industry-academia collaboration. With the MoU sign off we look to engage in deeper research that will improve the quality of life in totality.”

Bosch extends association with IISc by becoming a research partner
In May 2011, the Bosch Group announced investments totalling Rs 300 crore to provide support for universities and research projects in Germany, China, India, and the U.S. over a 10-year period, as part of its global initiative ‘Bosch InterCampus Program’. The program aims to achieve lasting improvements in research conditions for undergraduates and scientists in the university sphere. Approximately Rs 115 crore were allotted for India to accelerate progress in highly promising fields like environmental protection, energy, and mobility. The Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber Physical Systems was set up at IISc with this grant and is currently in its fourth year.

With the signing of the new MoU, Bosch and IISc will deepen their already existing relationship. Commenting on the signing of the new MoU, Vijay Ratnaparkhe, president, Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, said, “These partnerships symbolise Bosch’s innovation focus in India. It will increase our problem solving capabilities, and at the same time the collaboration will result in sharing our learnings for the benefit of society. I believe it is absolutely essential for the growth of innovation in India.”

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