IIT Roorkee signs MoU with Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City to advance joint projects, academic programmes, and training in sustainability, climate resilience, AI, and electronics.
Landmark MoU signed in New Delhi
On 6 May 2026, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU HCMC) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the ITC Maurya Hotel, New Delhi. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of H.E. Mr. To Lam, President of Vietnam, Prof. Vu Hai Quan, Minister for Science and Technology of Vietnam, and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw of India.
The MoU marks a significant step in strengthening India–Vietnam cooperation in science, technology, and higher education, aligning with both nations’ growing emphasis on innovation, climate resilience, and digital‑technology leadership.
Leadership and institutional support
The MoU was signed under the able leadership and motivation of Prof. K. K. Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, who has been driving the institute’s global engagement and research‑centric partnerships. The initiative received strong support from key IIT Roorkee officials, including Prof. Vivek Malik, Dean (SRIC); Prof. Karun Rawat, Dean (IR); and Prof. Anand Bulusu, Dean (Faculty Affairs).
The MoU was signed on behalf of IIT Roorkee by Prof. Vivek Malik, Dean (SRIC), and on behalf of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City by Prof. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Chancellor. Representing the WRDM (ICARS) Greater Noida Campus of IIT Roorkee, Prof. Anil Kumar Gupta also joined the signing, underscoring the role of IIT Roorkee’s research centres in the bilateral collaboration.
Focus areas of collaboration
Through the MoU, IIT Roorkee and VNU HCMC will pursue joint projects, academic programmes, training initiatives, and advisory endeavours in several priority domains. Key focus areas include:
- Climate resilience and environmental sustainability, including water‑management, pollution control, and climate‑adapted infrastructure.
- Artificial intelligence and data‑driven decision‑making in urban planning, energy systems, and disaster‑management.
- Electronics and advanced manufacturing, particularly in semiconductor‑related technologies, sensors, and embedded systems.
Both institutions will also explore faculty and student exchanges, joint degree or credit‑sharing programmes, and collaborative research‑infrastructure use, creating a sustained platform for knowledge sharing and innovation.
Building a trilateral research and education ecosystem
The partnership aligns with India’s Act‑East policy and Vietnam’s ambition to strengthen ties with leading technical universities in the region. By linking IIT Roorkee’s research strength in civil, environmental, and electronics engineering with VNU HCMC’s regional leadership in multidisciplinary higher education, the two universities aim to build a trilateral innovation ecosystem that can address cross‑border challenges in climate change, urbanisation, and digital‑technology deployment.
The MoU also opens the door for joint research funding proposals with national science‑funding agencies in both countries, as well as with regional and multilateral organisations focused on sustainable development and technology transfer.
Strengthening India–Vietnam science and technology ties
The signing ceremony, attended by top political and technical leaders from India and Vietnam, highlighted the importance of science‑and‑technology cooperation in the broader bilateral relationship. For Vietnam, partnerships with high‑ranking Indian institutes like IIT Roorkee provide access to cutting‑edge engineering research, pedagogical models, and technology transfer mechanisms.
For India, such collaborations enhance India’s footprint in Southeast Asia’s academic and innovation networks, while supporting the Global South‑centred knowledge‑sharing model that underpins many of India’s recent international‑education engagements.
Roadmap for joint programmes and projects
In the immediate term, both institutions plan to identify pilot projects and short‑term programmes in the agreed domains, including joint workshops, summer/winter schools, and faculty‑led research clusters. Over the medium term, they aim to establish long‑running research‑centres or joint labs dedicated to AI‑driven sustainability solutions and next‑generation electronics.
By fostering regular dialogue, shared PhD supervision, and co‑published research, IIT Roorkee and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City intend to build a deep, enduring partnership that not only advances academic knowledge but also contributes to national and regional resilience in the face of climate change and technological transformation.
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