Nissan and IIT Madras sign agreement

CHENNAI: Nissan and IIT Madras (IIT-M) agreed two MoUs for a comprehensive research cooperation agreement to support potential engineers who will contribute future technology for mobility and create an environment for nurturing the growth of automobile technology in India. This is in line with the Expression of Interest (EOI) signed between Nissan and IIT Madras in January 2010 to start discussing potential collaborations in the areas of research and development, including but not limited to research collaborations, lectures and scholarships. The Nissan Science Foundation (NSF), with a view to groom talented students and contribute towards development of automobile technology in India, signed an MoU– ‘Nissan Foundation Scholar’ Program to support students of IIT-M. This MoU is valid until 2015 and aims to provide selected students with financial aid, a short training at Nissan headquarters in Japan and an internship at RNTBCI. NSF is providing this kind of student support for the first time outside Japan. The second MoU agreed by Nissan’s R&D Centre in India (RNTBCI) titled the ‘Nissan Support Program’ is valid upto March 2013. This initiative will aim to support Research & Development Project at IIT-M in the area of Engineering, Science, Management, Humanities and Social Sciences, which will contribute to Automobile Sector in the future. The Nissan Support Program will invite proposals from the faculty of IIT Madras every year for research work in the identified areas. Post a joint review of Nissan officials and IIT Madras, around 4-5 projects will be chosen for funding every year. Says Haruyoshi Kumura, Fellow of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd & Director of Nissan Science Foundation, “Our association with IIT-M for research collaboration has been very rewarding. We already have a couple of collaborative projects with IIT-M and also started a research laboratory at IIT Madras Research Park. The scholarship is an area where we want to provide an opportunity to reward deserving students. We are confident that this partnership will offer them not just financial aid for completing their education but give them an opportunity to learn and be exposed to the Nissan world.” Talking about the Research Support Program, Hiroshi Nagaoka, Senior Vice President & Director (Nissan Operations), RNTBCI said, “We are delighted to be associated with IIT-M towards this initiative. Our association with the faculty and the management of IIT-M has been very encouraging and we are eager to continue working on mutually beneficial collaborations.” On the twin MoUs with Nissan, Dr Job Kurian, Professor and Dean of the Centre for Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR), IIT Madras said, “We have taken our long-standing association with Nissan a step further. The ‘Nissan Support Program’ is a great effort to promote fundamental research among the young faculty members at IIT-M. ‘Nissan Foundation Scholar Program’ promises to nurture our students’ potential providing them with an attractive opportunity of overseas training. We are very pleased with these developments and look forward to a continued mutually-benefiting relationship with Nissan.” Celebrating this initiative, a ‘Nissan Day’ event at IIT Madras was organized for the students, faculty and management. There was a Technology Exhibition highlighting the various engineering and technological innovations being carried out at Nissan. The Nissan Micra was on display to showcase some of the performance features and design attributes of the car. Since its establishment in 1974, the Nissan Science Foundation has extensively provided grants for a wide range of significant research mostly in the field of natural science. The Nissan Science Foundation has provided approximately 2,400 projects with grants totaling 6.6 billion yen. Responding to the global concerns such as environment and education, Nissan Science Foundation is focusing its grants delivery on the below areas under the action item "Creating Solutions for Social Progress" and is conducting distinctive activities as a private foundation.