The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to enhance collaboration in research, development, and consultancy studies. This MoU aims to advance their joint efforts in addressing key technological challenges within the steel industry.

The MoU was signed between Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean, R&D, IIT Kanpur; and Mr. Sandip Kumar Kar, Executive Director, R&D Center for Iron & Steel (RDCIS), SAIL in the presence of Shri. Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Govt of India; Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur; Mr. Amarendu Prakash, Chairman of SAIL; Prof. Braj Bhushan, Deputy Director of IITK; Prof. Shalabh, Dean of Academic Affairs, IITK; Prof. Kantesh Balani, Head of Materials Science and Engineering, IITK; and Prof. Jayant K Singh, Head of Chemical Engineering, IITK.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, said, “We are thrilled to embark on this new collaboration with SAIL, which marks a significant step in advancing IIT Kanpur’s engagement with the industry. We also propose to strengthen our commitment to R&D for technological innovation in the steel industry through the formation of a Section 8 company with the Ministry of Steel’s support. This will leverage our inherent strengths in digital technologies, including modeling and simulation, to address critical challenges faced by the country in the steel sector.”

Shri. Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Govt of India, said, “IIT Kanpur and SAIL have entered into a collaborative effort to address technological challenges related to steel decarbonization, hydrogen use in DRI production, waste utilization, mineral beneficiation of lean ore, and bulk materials movement and more. This MoU also represents a step towards solving the future manpower requirements of the steel industry.” The Secretary also insisted on mutual use of laboratory facilities available with IITK, RDCIS and NMDC.

Mr. Amarendu Prakash, Chairman of SAIL, said, “I believe that leading institutions like IIT Kanpur play a crucial role in guiding the industry in selecting future technologies. SAIL will be the first customer for products developed by start-ups incubated at IIT Kanpur, and I am confident that this collaboration will be a win-win for both IIT Kanpur and SAIL. It is essential that we focus on projects that deliver early results in a short timeframe.”

Mr. Sandip Kumar Kar, Executive Director of the R&D Center for Iron & Steel (RDCIS) at SAIL underscored the importance of initiating specific projects promptly and invited professors to visit RDCIS and SAIL plants to gain a deeper understanding of plant operations and manufacturing environment. Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of R&D at IIT Kanpur, highlighted that plant problems are inherently interdisciplinary and require expertise from various fields. He further noted that IIT Kanpur is well-equipped with cutting-edge research facilities and a diverse team of experts to effectively address these technological challenges.

This partnership sets the stage for significant advancements in steel industry technologies through collaborative research and innovation.