Simon India Limited (SIL) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) to co-develop next-generation green and low-carbon technologies. The collaboration will be anchored through IIT Bombay’s National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (NCoE-CCUS) under the Department of Earth Sciences.
Through this industry–academia partnership, both institutions aim to accelerate India’s industrial transition toward sustainability by combining advanced research with real-world engineering and deployment capabilities.
Driving India’s Energy Transition Through Structured Collaboration
The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation across critical climate and clean energy domains. Specifically, the partnership will focus on:
*Green hydrogen and green ammonia
*Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)
*Circular economy and waste-to-value technologies
*Energy efficiency and low-carbon industrial processes
*Rare earth recovery, advanced fertilizers, and chemical derivatives
Importantly, the collaboration goes beyond academic exchange. Instead, it emphasizes co-development, pilot validation, technology transfer, and commercialization of scalable industrial solutions. By doing so, both partners aim to fast-track innovation from lab to market.
Bridging Research and Industrial Deployment
IIT Bombay and Simon India will work closely on intellectual property (IP) creation, particularly in catalyst development and carbon utilization technologies. In addition, they will jointly pursue research and development programs, pilot-scale projects, and national as well as international research grant proposals.
IIT Bombay will provide laboratory infrastructure, conduct bench-scale validations, develop engineering models, and generate CAPEX and OPEX estimates to support pilot-scale design. Meanwhile, Simon India will contribute industrial expertise, project execution capabilities, and engineering support to translate validated research into deployable commercial projects.
Furthermore, the partnership includes faculty–industry exchanges, student internships, industrial training, and experiential learning initiatives. As a result, it will strengthen capacity building while nurturing future talent in clean technology and sustainable engineering.
Strengthening India’s Clean Technology Ecosystem
India’s energy transition requires not only progressive policies but also robust industrial execution. By integrating research excellence with engineering implementation, this MoU aims to shorten innovation cycles and enhance India’s global competitiveness in clean technology markets.
Prof. Vikram Vishal, Convener of NCoE-CCUS at IIT Bombay, stated that the partnership will bridge the gap between research and industrial applications in carbon management and green technologies. He emphasized that scalable solutions developed through this alliance can significantly contribute to India’s decarbonization and sustainability goals.
Prof. Arnab Dutta, Associate Professor in the Chemistry Department and Associate at the Centre for Climate Studies, highlighted the importance of collaborative platforms in translating fundamental chemistry and catalytic research into impactful climate solutions. He noted that integrating academic research with industrial engineering capabilities will accelerate the commercialization of next-generation carbon utilization technologies.
Industry Commitment to Sustainable Innovation
Speaking on the occasion, Aashutosh Aggarwal, CEO of Simon India Limited, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainable industrial innovation. He stated that by combining academic excellence with Simon India’s engineering and execution strengths, the partnership will accelerate the development and deployment of proprietary green and low-carbon technologies.
The strategic alliance positions Simon India and IIT Bombay at the forefront of India’s clean energy transition. As per the press release, by advancing carbon innovation, green hydrogen solutions, and sustainable process technologies, the collaboration aims to support long-term industrial growth while contributing meaningfully to climate resilience and decarbonization goals.
