Partnership with Indian university opens new opportunities for Nottingham

The University of Nottingham has signed a memorandum of understanding with Panjab University, securing increased student exchange programs, joint research activities and teaching partnerships; it also supports the Newton-Bhabha Fund, which aims to bring together the UK and Indian scientific research and innovation sectors to find joint solutions to India’s economic and social challenges. This £50 million fund is part of the UK’s £375 million Newton Fund that supports science and innovation partnerships between the UK and emerging powers.

The signing in New Delhi by The University of Nottingham’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Greenway and Panjab University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Arun Grover, was attended by government delegates from India and the UK, as well as representatives from both universities.

Professor Sir David Greenaway said: “I am delighted to have travelled to India to sign this new Memorandum of Understanding with Panjab University, supported by the Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster. This represents the coming together of two renowned universities and we are looking forward to developing purposeful and collaborative research particularly under the strategic Newton-Bhabha Fund.

“Significantly we were also joined by representatives from Nottingham both from the Council and from business. This signing is part of a wider strategy to engage with Chandigarh in order to strengthen trade and investment with Nottingham, and this initiative will be strengthened through our work with Panjab University.”

During the visit, Sir David also met with Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India with whom he had positive discussions about potential future collaborations with the country.

India is now the fifth largest investor in the UK and is currently showing growth rates of almost 7%, driven by domestic demand, fuelled by a rapidly growing middle class.

Chris Henning, Director of Economic Development at Nottingham City Council, said: “This level of co-operation will help to generate new technology, create new jobs in both communities and open up exciting possibilities for the future. In addition to increased collaboration, the memorandum will encourage research that sows the seeds for commercial opportunities, increasing the potential for contracts between Nottingham companies and their Panjabi counterparts.