Gandhinagar, Aug 31: The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and Global Chamber Ahmedabad GIFT City, part of the Global Chamber network, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 28, 2026, to establish a University–Industry–Global Ecosystem partnership aimed at accelerating the translation of research into market-ready solutions and strengthening IITGN’s global innovation and technology validation ecosystem.
The MoU provides a formal framework for interaction and collaboration between the two organisations on initiatives of mutual interest. Global Chamber Ahmedabad GIFT City will leverage its international network of CEOs, investors and policymakers to facilitate global partnerships, market access and visibility for IITGN.
The collaboration will explore joint programmes to support international technology companies entering India and develop validation, certification and adaptation frameworks for India. It will also facilitate joint research, investments and cross-border scaling, while supporting IITGN’s global positioning and creating a stronger India-entry pipeline for international technology companies.
Highlighting the broader potential of the collaboration, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, noted,
“For an institution like IIT Gandhinagar, it is important that our research and innovations find pathways beyond the campus. This collaboration opens up opportunities to connect our work with industry and global ecosystems and take it towards wider applications and impact.”
Highlighting the global opportunities emerging from GIFT City, Mr Shanker Damodaran, Executive Director, Global Chamber Ahmedabad GIFT City, said,
“We are part of a global network with a presence across cities worldwide, and our focus is to make it easier for businesses to connect across markets. With multiple initiatives coming up in GIFT City, we see significant opportunities to work with IIT Gandhinagar and bring global technologies, investments and partnerships to Gujarat.”
Emphasising the research and innovation potential of the partnership, Prof Vimal Mishra, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Gandhinagar, said,
“The collaboration will create opportunities to connect research and technology with industry and global partners, helping promising innovations move towards real-world applications.”
Under the partnership, IITGN will contribute its capabilities in technology validation, deep-tech and innovation support, and research and development, while Global Chamber Ahmedabad GIFT City will facilitate industry adoption, global partnerships, international technology incubation, and engagements in urban innovation and emerging technologies.
The MoU signing was followed by a technical interaction on sustainable and energy-efficient computing infrastructure. The discussion covered advanced cooling technologies, including closed-loop water cooling, their potential to reduce energy and water consumption, and the integration of renewable energy solutions. The participants also discussed the potential of geothermal and other building-level sustainable cooling approaches.
The MoU was signed by Mr Shanker Damodaran, Executive Director, Global Chamber Ahmedabad GIFT City, and Prof Vimal Mishra, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Gandhinagar.
The partnership brings together IITGN’s research, technology and innovation capabilities with Global Chamber Ahmedabad GIFT City’s international business network, creating opportunities for stronger academia–industry engagement, global collaboration and research commercialisation.