IIT Madras – University of Technology Sydney Joint Research Centre (JRC)

About the Program

The IIT Madras – University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Joint Research Centre (JRC) is a flagship international research partnership established to advance collaborative research, innovation, and doctoral education between two leading institutions. Building on over a decade of strategic engagement through the IIT Madras–UTS Key Technology Partnership, the Joint Research Centre provides a platform for faculty, researchers, industry, and research scholars to work together on addressing global challenges through interdisciplinary research and innovation. The Joint Research Centre serves as a platform for faculty, researchers, industry partners, and doctoral scholars to jointly address global challenges through interdisciplinary research and innovation. It promotes collaborative research projects, joint supervision of doctoral students, international mobility, and the development of solutions with societal and industrial impact.

Objectives

The Joint Research Centre aims to:

• Promote high-impact collaborative research between IIT Madras and UTS.

• Facilitate joint supervision of PhD scholars and strengthen research training.

• Develop internationally competitive research programs addressing global challenges.

• Encourage interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and research centres.

• Foster partnerships with industry and government agencies to translate research into practical solutions.

• Support long-term academic and research engagement between the two institutions.

Research Focus Areas

The Centre focuses on Artificial Intelligence for Humanity, with applications in several priority areas including:

• Smart Cities

• Smart Buildings

• Agriculture

• Renewable Energy

• Water Engineering

• Disaster Management (Floods, Earthquakes, etc.)

• Climate Change Mitigation

• Responsible and Ethical AI

These research themes bring together expertise from engineering, computer science, environmental sciences, and data- driven technologies to develop sustainable and impactful solutions.

Collaborative PhD Programme

A key initiative of the Joint Research Centre is the Collaborative PhD Programme, enabling doctoral scholars to undertake research jointly at IIT Madras and UTS.

Programme Highlights

• Joint supervision by faculty members from both institutions.

• Research experience at both IIT Madras and UTS, with scholars spending a substantial portion of their candidature (minimum one year) at each university.

• Access to advanced research infrastructure and laboratories at both institutions.

• Opportunities to work on internationally relevant, interdisciplinary research.

• Graduates receive PhD degrees awarded by both IIT Madras and UTS, subject to successful completion of programme requirements.

Support for Research Scholars

Funding

The Joint Research Centre is supported through institutional commitments and external funding opportunities.

• UTS provides two PhD stipends each year for students undertaking a 12-month research stay in Australia under the Collaborative PhD Programme.

• IIT Madras provides stipend support for participating scholars during their research period at IIT Madras.

• Additional funding for collaborative research and scholarships will be pursued through industry-sponsored projects and competitive government research grants.

Why Join the Joint Research Centre?

Researchers and students participating in the Joint Research Centre benefit from:

• Internationally recognised joint research environment.

• State-of-the-art research infrastructure in India and Australia.

• Joint supervision from internationally recognised faculty.

• Opportunities for international mobility.

• Strong industry engagement and applied research.

• Enhanced global research visibility through joint publications and collaborative projects.

Get Involved

The Joint Research Centre welcomes:

• Faculty members interested in collaborative research.

• PhD applicants seeking international joint supervision.

• Industry partners looking for collaborative innovation opportunities.

• Government agencies and funding organisations interested in supporting high-impact research initiatives.

Together, IIT Madras and UTS are building an international research ecosystem that advances knowledge, develops future research leaders, and delivers innovative solutions for global challenges.