Imperial College London and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have launched a strategic partnership covering research, innovation and education, marking a new phase of collaboration between the two leading institutions. The partnership will initially focus on clean technology and medical technology, bringing together researchers, academics, students and innovators from the UK and India to address major technological and societal challenges.
Expanding UK-India Research Collaboration
IIT Bombay is one of Imperial’s key collaborating institutions in India. The new agreement builds on several years of successful joint research projects involving academics from both countries. Under the partnership, the institutions will develop a range of initiatives, including joint research and innovation programmes, academic workshops and student entrepreneurship programmes. Furthermore, students and researchers will have opportunities to collaborate through placements and exchange programmes in London and Mumbai. These initiatives will allow participants to work on joint projects while sharing knowledge, expertise and research data. The partnership therefore strengthens the growing collaboration between scientists and academic institutions in the UK and India.
Supporting India-UK Technology and Innovation Goals
The agreement comes as India and the UK deepen their broader cooperation in science, technology and innovation. Last year, the two countries signed a Free Trade Agreement and announced the India-UK Vision 2035, which aims to expand cooperation in areas including advanced technology and research. The partnership also builds on the Technology Security Initiative, which focuses on future telecommunications, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. In addition, the initiative is expected to create opportunities for further cooperation in semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnology and advanced materials. The Imperial-IIT Bombay partnership was formally celebrated at an event in Mumbai attended by Professor Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, and Professor Anthony Bull, Director of Imperial’s School of Convergence Science.
Combining Global Expertise in Science and Technology
Imperial College London, ranked second globally and first in the UK and Europe in the QS World University Rankings 2027, will use the partnership to expand its activities through Imperial Global India. The initiative supports high-impact science and technology programmes with partners across India and provides an additional platform for researchers from both institutions to develop solutions with international applications. Professor Peter Haynes, Provost and Deputy President of Imperial College London, said the partnership builds on Imperial’s longstanding links with India and will bring together complementary expertise to tackle shared challenges. He added that closer collaboration with IIT Bombay could accelerate research and innovation with the potential to benefit people in India, the UK and beyond. Professor Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, said the partnership would strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two institutions. He highlighted the potential to combine their strengths in research, innovation and education, particularly in clean technology and medical technology, while creating opportunities for students, researchers and innovators to develop solutions with global impact.
Joint Research Tackling Real-World Challenges
Researchers from IIT Bombay and Imperial are already working together on dozens of projects spanning areas such as water management, energy security, disease modelling and climate science.One collaborative project, led by Dr Angela Kedgley of Imperial and Dr Darshan S. Shah of IIT Bombay, aims to improve the accuracy of remote monitoring of upper-limb movements. The research could support the development of more affordable and accessible diagnostic, physiotherapy and rehabilitation tools for people with neuromusculoskeletal conditions affecting the arm. Meanwhile, researchers from Imperial, IIT Bombay and industry partners are working on data-driven reforms in India’s power sector. As per the press release, led by Dr Mirabelle Muûls of Imperial and Professor Suryanarayana Doolla of IIT Bombay, the team has facilitated discussions on how demand flexibility could strengthen grid resilience while supporting decarbonisation and improving affordability. Another project combines quantum computing and biotechnology to help farmers develop stronger crops that can better withstand the effects of climate change. The research is being led by Dr Po-Heng Lee of Imperial and Dr Indrajit Chakraborty of IIT Bombay.
Encouraging Student Entrepreneurship
The partnership also places a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and student innovation. In 2026, 170 IIT Bombay students participated in Imperial Enterprise Lab’s Global Challenge Lab, a programme that enables participants to develop startup ideas from the ground up with mentoring from global industry experts. Going forward, the expanded collaboration between Imperial and IIT Bombay is expected to create further opportunities for student entrepreneurship, research exchanges and technology innovation, while strengthening the UK-India partnership in science and education.
