| Posted: August 4, 2009 | |
Plans for new Indian-Australian Research Academy released |
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| (Nanowerk News) Architects have unveiled the first glimpse of plans for the A$10 million collaboration between research giants Monash University and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB). | |
| The two internationally-respected institutions have joined forces to create the IITB-Monash Research Academy, which will train a new era of researchers focused on solving some of the major issues confronting society and industry in both nations. | |
| The four-level purpose-built Academy will be located on IITB's Mumbai campus and is expected to be ready for occupation early in 2011. | |
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| IITB-Monash Research Academy | |
| Officials today released plans for the new building, which will utilise state-of-the-art research collaboration technology. | |
| Acting CEO Professor Mohan Krishnamoorthy said the Research Academy was a unique venture in which some of India's best and brightest young minds undertook joint PhD research in both India and Australia. | |
| "The new building will be equipped with extremely sophisticated communication technology and video-conferencing facilities. It will consist of nine laboratories, offices, and workstations for 350 researchers," Professor Krishnamoorthy said. | |
| The contemporary-style building, designed by architects Venkatraman and Associates, will feature a spacious porch, an elevated plinth and corridors that overlook a central courtyard. Construction is scheduled to begin early next year. | |
| While planning and construction continues, teaching and research has already begun. The Academy has just welcomed its second batch of PhD students, bringing the total number of researchers to 36. | |
| Professor Krishnamoorthy said there was strong demand for entry to the academy. An astounding 1500 applications were received in the June 2009 intake. Twenty-two researchers were finally selected. It's hoped the academy will support 350 research projects by 2015. | |
| The first intake of students, who began last year, are well into their research projects. | |
| The Research Academy builds on the combined strengths of Monash University and IITB. It aims to create a community of academics and students engaged in finding solutions for complex problems in government, industry and the research community in Australia, India and the rest of the world. | |
| The Research Academy was formally opened in November last year. Research projects centre around six major themes: computational science and engineering, infrastructure engineering, biotechnology and stem cell research, clean energy, water and nanotechnology. | |
| These themes address future research and development challenges of industry sectors including petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, infrastructure, biotechnology, life sciences, IT and financial markets. | |
| Students have a supervisor in both institutions, must study in both Australia and India and receive a dual PhD from Monash University in Melbourne and IITB in Mumbai. | |
| The Academy is a not-for-profit, autonomous institution with an independent Governing Board and a high-powered Advisory Council, which includes captains of industry and research luminaries. | |
| Mr Narayana Murthy (former CEO and chief mentor at Infosys) is the chairman. Other members include Dr Ramesh Mashelkar (former director-general CSIR), Dr Pawan Goenka (managing director Mahindra and Mahindra), Mr Prasad Menon (managing director Tata Power), Dr V Rao Aiyagiri (Department of Science and Technology), Sir Gus Nossal (former president of the Australian Academy of Sciences), and Dr Swati Piramal (director Piramal Healthcare). | |
| The vice-chancellor of Monash University and the director of IITB are ex-officio members of the Advisory Council. | |
| Source: Monash University |
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