Patna: 26 April 2023 :: IIT Patna signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Applied Materials India for research and development for Corrosion Resistant Coatings for semiconductor industry
Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna) has secured funding from Department of Science & Technology (DST, Govt. of India to establish the “Centre of Excellence” (CoE) in “Wear and Corrosion Resistant Coatings Technology”. Apart from DST, Applied Materials India, Tata Steel Limited and Associated Plasmatron Pvt. Ltd. are the industry partners in this endeavour. The institutes joining hands with IIT Patna in the establishment and execution of this Centre of Excellence are National Institute of Technology Patna (NIT Patna), All India Institute of Medical Sciences Patna (AIIMS Patna), Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad (IIT (ISM) Dhanbad) and CSIR- Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Durgapur (CMERI Durgapur). This CoE is the first one to be established across Eastern India, in Wear and Corrosion Resistant Coatings Technology.
In continuation of the same, IIT Patna signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Applied Materials India on April 25, 2023, to collaborate in development of Corrosion Resistant Coatings for semiconductor industry. In this ceremony, Prof. T. N. Singh, Director IIT Patna, and Dr. Suraj Rengarajan, Managing Director and CTO Applied Materials India signed the MoU.
Commenting on this MoU, Professor T N Singh, Hon. Director IIT Patna, expressed his confidence in the engagement with industry as “It is the way for IIT be part of future road map in niche technology segment such as Semiconductors. DST’s AMT program to establish Centre of Excellence at IIT Patna will propel advancement in coatings application in wear and corrosion resistance. This centre would lead the eastern region in formation of essential projects for the nation.
Dr. Suraj Rengarajan, Managing Director and Chief Technical Officer, Applied Materials India told that this MoU will drive innovation and help in creating a real world impact where the industrial problems can be directly tackled with the research innovations from the eminent institutes. He claimed huge impacts of materials engineering in the near future and emphasized that the Indian youth would be the next talent hub for the world.
Dr. Anup Kumar Keshri, the Principal Investigator of the Centre of Excellence, Associate Professor, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Associate Dean (R&D), IIT Patna, gave the brief about the objectives of this CoE. He says that, this centre will identify and investigate the perennial problems of Industries/Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the areas of wear and corrosion and will provide the feasible solutions. Apart from development of the centre, the priority would also be on skill development, startups, exploration of new ideas, bridging the gap between industry and academia and training and education.
The MoU signing ceremony ended with Dr. Anup Kumar Keshri presenting mementos to the dignitaries. The ceremony was quite interactive as the Applied Materials India team replied to the queries put forward by the students. The students seemed quite interested in the opportunity and showed interest in pursuing this field. This MoU will be a great platform for mutual benefit for the academia as well as the industries high value industrial problems to provide the cutting edge research-based solutions. As a part of the MoU, students will get a chance to work closely with the renowned scientists of Applied Materials in India and U.S., and will boost their career in Materials Engineering.
