Deepening a longtime partnership and expanding their collective global impact, Virginia Tech and India’s Mahindra University created the Interdisciplinary Advanced Research Center for Transformative Technologies.
The new center, to be housed in a dedicated facility on Mahindra’s campus in Hyderabad, will bring together faculty from both institutions to collaborate on pioneering advancements in science and technology.
“This partnership with Virginia Tech reflects our commitment to fostering interdisciplinary research and preparing the next generation of ethical and innovative leaders,” said Yajulu Medury, vice chancellor of Mahindra University, a multidisciplinary institution known for its focus on developing “global thinkers and engaged leaders.” “The center will empower students and faculty to create transformative solutions.”
Building upon the existing scientific and engineering expertise of the Mahindra faculty and potentially transformative technologies, the center will focus on four key areas:
- Biomarkers discovery: Early detection and biotherapeutics
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Smart and connected cities
- The water and energy nexus
These areas will be supported by cross-cutting platform technologies such as advanced characterization, instrumentation, computation, and materials science. The collaboration aims to strengthen research capacity at both universities and develop practical solutions to pressing global issues.
Roop Mahajan, the Lewis Hester Chair in Mechanical Engineering and director of strategic research and innovation for Virginia Tech India, emphasized the initiative’s broader impact.
“Transformative research is about addressing society’s most urgent challenges with innovative, meaningful solutions,” he said. “This partnership equips future leaders with the skills and vision needed to create a positive impact on humanity.”
Virginia Tech India, part of Outreach and International Affairs, has been instrumental in building similar academic collaborations. In 2019, for example, it partnered with Thapar University to establish the Thapar-Virginia Tech Center of Excellence in Emerging Materials. In 2023, Virginia Tech India and the College of Science established a dual-degree master’s program with Mumbai-based NMIMS.
Under the new agreement, Virginia Tech and Mahindra University also will explore opportunities for cultural exchange and the development of additional joint and dual-degree master’s programs. Virginia Tech India will lead these efforts as part of its mission to advance the university’s academic, research, and engagement work in the world’s most populous country.
“This collaboration epitomizes the spirit of global academic partnerships,” said Guru Ghosh, vice president for outreach and international affairs. “By leveraging the strengths of Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech India, and Mahindra University, we are creating an environment that fosters innovation, cultural exchange, and impactful research that transcends borders.”