Rolls-Royce and IIT Bombay Sign MoU to Strengthen Industry-Academia Collaboration

In a move aimed at fostering innovation and advancing engineering research, Rolls-Royce has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). The collaboration is designed to promote knowledge exchange, support talent development, and explore joint research initiatives in areas of mutual interest.

The agreement was signed by Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Bombay, and G.S. Selwyn, Executive Vice President of Rolls-Royce India and Managing Director of MTU India. The signing ceremony was attended by Alex Zino, Director of Business Development and Future Programmes (UK and International) at Rolls-Royce, along with senior officials from both organizations.

As part of the partnership, selected students from IIT Bombay will undertake internships with Rolls-Royce’s defence engineering team in Bengaluru. The initiative is expected to provide students with hands-on experience in advanced engineering projects while enabling Rolls-Royce to engage with emerging technical talent.

The collaboration comes amid growing emphasis on strengthening India’s engineering and technology ecosystem. With a large pool of skilled professionals and a rising focus on indigenous innovation, industry-academia partnerships are increasingly seen as a pathway to drive research commercialization and build future-ready capabilities.

The MoU will facilitate structured engagement between Rolls-Royce and IIT Bombay, potentially supporting joint research projects, faculty and expert interactions, and skill development programs. Areas of collaboration may include advanced engineering solutions, sustainable technologies, and digital innovation.

This partnership underscores Rolls-Royce’s ongoing investment in India’s engineering sector and aligns with broader efforts to expand its local capabilities through strategic alliances with academic institutions. IIT Bombay, consistently ranked among India’s top engineering institutes, continues to play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application.