On 9 January 2026, a delegation from IIT Roorkee and Uttarakhand Technical University visited Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, to advance a strategic and long-term partnership agenda in higher education, science, and innovation. The IIT Roorkee delegation comprised Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant (Director, IIT Roorkee), Prof. Vimal Chandra Srivastava (Dean, International Relations & Professor of Chemical Engineering), Prof. Ankit Agarwal (Department of Hydrology) and Prof. Tripta Thakur (Vice Chancellor, Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University). Humboldt University of Berlin was represented by Dr. Kallol Ray (Institute of Chemistry), Dr. Isabelle Harbrecht (Strategic Partnership Manager Asia/Pacific, International Department), and Dr. Lea Jürß (Strategic Partnership Administration).
The engagement focused on aligning institutional strengths and identifying high-priority, high-impact pathways for collaboration. Discussions covered mechanisms for structured cooperation, including jointly defined research programmes, faculty and student mobility, doctoral and postdoctoral exchange, and capacity-building initiatives. Both sides explored opportunities to develop joint academic offerings, including co-taught modules and dual/joint programmes, as well as flagship Indo-German workshops and thematic schools designed to build sustained research communities.
A key emphasis was placed on creating enabling platforms for long-term partnerships such as the establishment of joint offices and dedicated coordination nodes to streamline collaboration, support mobility, and facilitate project development. The delegations also discussed forward-looking models of engagement, including the potential for a transnational academic footprint (e.g., a transnational campus/innovation hub concept) that could connect research, training, entrepreneurship, and industry partnerships between Germany and Uttarakhand.
Priority thematic areas discussed included clean energy and green hydrogen, advanced materials and chemical sciences, hydrology and climate-risk research, disaster resilience and early warning systems, and digital technologies, including data science and AI-enabled solutions. The dialogue also highlighted innovation-focused collaboration, including joint innovation platforms to support start-ups, translation of research to applications, and pathways that contribute to sustainable development and regional capacity enhancement.
The visit reinforces IIT Roorkee’s proactive role in shaping globally relevant academic and research partnerships, while reflecting the shared commitment of the Government of Uttarakhand and Humboldt University of Berlin to strengthen Indo-German ties through innovation-led cooperation, academic exchange, and institutionally anchored, long-term collaboration.