IIT-M to set up research centre at Bhel, Trichy

Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), Trichy, signed memoranda of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), on Monday to set up a research centre at the former's campus.

The centre would facilitate collaborative research projects between the two. The areas of specialisation would be metallurgical engineering, mechanical engineering and information technology on a broadbase. The centre would also focus on boiler design, energy engineering, welding technology and other relevant topics of mutual interest, according to a press release.

The two MoUs were signed between V Gopalakrishnan, executive director of Bhel, Trichy, and M S Ananth, director of IIT Madras, in Chennai.

As per the first MoU, Bhel would assist IIT-M in establishing the research centre at the BHEL complex by providing all the requisite infrastructure facilities and research laboratories. It would also select research scholars meant for MSR Phd programmes as per the normal selection procedure being followed at the institute. The selected candidates will, however, carry out a major part of the research work at the newly created IIT M research centre at Bhel, Trichy. The entire funding would be borne by BHEL, the release added.

The second MoU would envisage starting of two new courses on energy engineering and welding engineering from the ensuing academic year. The new programmes will be conducted at the School of Advanced Engineering and Information Technology (SAEIT), which is already functioning at Bhel, Trichy.