The British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata Visit to IIT Guwahati on 13th May 2025
On 13th May 2025, a high-level delegation from the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata, visited IIT Guwahati to explore strategic collaborations in education, science, and technology. The visit commenced at 3:00 PM and was convened by Dr. Deepak Sharma, Associate Dean of Alumni and External Relations, IIT Guwahati. The British delegation comprised Dr. Andrew Fleming, Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India; Ms. Brahmadatha, Senior Technology and Innovation Adviser; and Mr. Habib Raihan, Senior Trade Advisor. A total of 22 faculty members from various departments at IIT Guwahati participated in the meeting.
The program began with a formal felicitation of the visiting dignitaries, followed by opening remarks by Dr. Sharma and Dr. Fleming. Dr. Fleming emphasized the British Council’s growing interest in enhancing partnerships in the eastern and northeastern regions of India, marking this visit as a significant milestone and a first of its kind. He acknowledged the country-wide initiatives in science and technology and expressed a desire to include the northeastern states in similar ventures. The delegates also expressed appreciation for the National Education Policy 2020, particularly its focus on skill development and international collaboration.
The primary objective of the visit was to initiate and strengthen partnerships between Indian and UK institutions. These include student and faculty exchange programs, collaborative research projects, visits by UK-based industries, and efforts to enhance skill development and international employability. Ms. Brahmadatha expanded on these themes by highlighting key thrust areas for collaboration such Telecoms, Critical Minerals, Semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technologies, Biotechnology and Health-Tech. She cited an ongoing multi-million-dollar collaboration with IIT Bombay and ISM Dhanbad, involving more than 150 stakeholders from both countries, as an example of what could be achieved.
Following this, faculty members from IIT Guwahati delivered a series of presentations detailing the institute’s research capabilities and current projects. Dr. Sharma introduced IIT Guwahati and its institutional strengths and diversity. Subsequent speakers, including Dr. S. M. Hazariaka, Dr. Karuna Kalita, Dr. Chiranjib Sur, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, and Dr. Deepak Sharma, presented research in AI and its applications. Dr. Ganesh Narayanan, Head of CICPC, shared insights on AI-driven ongoing projects. In the domain of telecommunications, Dr. Salil Kashyap and Dr. Kuntal Deka presented recent advances. Dr. Kalishankar Bhattacharyya discussed work on quantum materials, and Dr. Tarkes Dora Pallicity presented his research on digital material characterization under the advanced materials category. Dr. Prabhi Vairukannu and Dr. Prasanna Venkatesh R spoke about ongoing research in critical materials.
Dr. S. Kangaraj, Head of the Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology, introduced the research pillars of the new school and his team's efforts in developing biomedical devices and biomaterials. Dr. Erwin Fuhrer discussed his research aligned with Health-Tech, while Mr. Abhishek presented lab-developed products. Dr. Bithiah Grace Jaganathan, Dr. Rashmi Dutta Baruah, Dr. Debanga Raj Neog, Dr. Kanahiya Pandey, Dr. Sudarshan Mukherjee, and Dr. Major B R also discussed their research, all of whom conveyed a strong interest in establishing collaborations with UK universities.
The event concluded with a strategic discussion on the mechanisms needed to translate these opportunities into action. Dr. Fleming emphasized the role of webinars, workshops, and stakeholder engagement platforms in fostering effective collaborations. A vote of thanks was offered to the visiting delegation, and the event concluded with a group photo session, marking the end of a productive and forward-looking interaction between IIT Guwahati and the British Deputy High Commission.
