Mumbai: John Cockerill Group, a Belgium-based technological solutions company, on Thursday said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-Bombay) to drive innovation in steel decarbonisation technology, green hydrogen value chain, and defense products development.
“This MoU represents a pivotal step in our journey to co-create innovative solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges faced by the steel, energy, and defense sectors,” said Vivek Bhide, Regional President, India, and Group Transformation Officer of John Cockerill.
He added that by leveraging IIT-Bombay’s academic excellence and the company’s engineering expertise, they aim to unlock new opportunities for steel decarbonisation, national security, and clean energy.
According to the official press release, the partnership will focus on the development of new solutions to address the evolving needs of the global steel sector, especially in achieving sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
“As a future perspective, this collaboration envisions support to the creation of Centres of Excellence dedicated in the future to steel technology, defense products, and green hydrogen value chain including production, storage, transportation, and usage,” it said.
Sachin Patwardhan, Dean-R&D, IIT-B said that the institution is committed to fostering industry-academia partnerships that bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world applications.
“This collaboration with John Cockerill Group aligns with our vision of driving translational research that contributes to technological advancements and industrial innovation. By combining our academic strengths with their engineering expertise, we aim to develop impactful solutions that address critical challenges and create meaningful societal benefits,” he added.
This collaboration aligns with John Cockerill’s broader commitment to partner with India’s energy transition, focusing on green hydrogen applications, steel decarbonising technologies, advanced defense products, and resource-efficient solutions.
The collaboration also includes efforts to foster talent through internships, doctoral programs, and faculty development initiatives.
