IIT Roorkee Signs MoU with USAC Dehradun to Strengthen Collaboration in Space Science and Technology

Roorkee, April 20, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre to foster collaboration in key areas of academic, scientific, and research engagement, with a focus on space science and geospatial applications relevant to the state of Uttarakhand.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, and Prof. Durgesh Pant, Director, USAC, at the IIT Roorkee campus, in the presence of Prof. Sanjay H. Upadhyay, Head, Centre for Space Science and Technology, IIT Roorkee, and Dr. Priyadarshi Upadhyay.
The collaboration envisages joint initiatives in three broad domains, namely academic and research collaboration, joint supervision of M. Tech. and Ph.D. students, and co-organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops. Under this partnership, both institutions will facilitate the exchange of scientific knowledge, faculty, and technical expertise, while also promoting capacity building of scientists and researchers.
As part of the academic and research collaboration, joint research and pilot projects will be undertaken in areas such as space applications, geospatial technologies, climate change, disaster management, and natural resource management. Students of IIT Roorkee will be provided opportunities for internships, project work, and thesis research at USAC, along with exposure to relevant laboratories, subject to institutional norms and security protocols. The collaboration will also support outreach activities, training programmes, hackathons, and workshops to promote space science and technology in the region, along with efforts to translate research outcomes into practical applications for state departments and agencies.
The MoU also provides for joint supervision of postgraduate and doctoral research. Selected M. Tech. and Ph.D. students will be jointly mentored by faculty and scientists from both institutions and will have access to facilities at IIT Roorkee and USAC, in accordance with academic guidelines.
Further, both institutions will jointly organize seminars, conferences, workshops, and short-term courses on topics of mutual interest. The modalities of participation for such programmes will be governed by separate agreements, in line with institutional policies.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant stated, “This collaboration with USAC reinforces IIT Roorkee’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge research and fostering meaningful partnerships that address regional and national challenges. The integration of space science and geospatial technologies will play a crucial role in sustainable development and disaster resilience.”
Prof. Durgesh Pant remarked, “The partnership with IIT Roorkee will significantly enhance our capabilities in research, innovation, and capacity building. By leveraging combined expertise, we aim to develop impactful solutions in areas critical to Uttarakhand, including natural resource management and disaster mitigation.”
The event was also attended by Prof. Amit Agarwal from IIT Roorkee & Dr. Sushma Gairola and Dr. Neelam Rawat from USAC. The MoU marks an important step towards strengthening academia–government collaboration and promoting the application of space science and technology for societal benefit.