Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has signed a letter of intent with Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), one of India’s leading technological universities, to establish academic cooperation and offer joint educational programs and research initiatives. The development marks a significant step towards enhancing worldwide academic engagement between two premier institutions in the fields of engineering, science, and technology.

The two institutions plan to establish bachelor’s and master’s degree programs where BITS Pilani students study in the two institutions and earn degrees from both universities. BITS and RPI will also conduct collaborative research through a joint Ph.D. program and a center of excellence in battery technology. 

“Our collaboration with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a significant milestone in providing global education and research programs for Indian students. RPI is a leading university embedded firmly in the semiconductor ecosystem, especially Albany Nano, a public R&D ecosystem involving academia, industry, and the government in Albany, New York. The partnership provides exciting opportunity for students and researchers to shape and lead innovations for the future,” said Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani V. Ramgopal Rao, Ph.D. 

“RPI and BITS Pilani both recognize that global collaboration in science, engineering, and technology is critical to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. As RPI celebrates its Bicentennial and looks ahead to our next century, we are proud to partner with BITS Pilani to engage students and researchers in the fruitful exchange of ideas, knowledge, and innovation that will create opportunity and prosperity,” said Martin A. Schmidt ’81, Ph.D., president of RPI. 

RPI and BITS Pilani formalized the agreement during a visit by BITS Pilani senior leadership to the RPI campus. Representing BITS Pilani were Rao, Senior Professor and Dean of Alumni Relations Arya Kumar, Ph.D., and Head of Alumni Relations and Technology Business Incubators Sachin Arya. Schmidt, Provost Rebecca Doerge, Ph.D., and Dean of Engineering Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., represented RPI. During the visit, the two institutions emphasized their mutual commitment to fostering cutting-edge research and education.

Established in 1824, RPI is the first technological research university in the United States. Instrumental in the U.S. industrial revolution and achievements such as the transcontinental railroad and the Brooklyn Bridge, RPI alumni include many groundbreaking inventors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, including Curtis Priem, co-founder of NVIDIA, Marcian Hoff, inventor of microprocessors, and Steven Sasson, inventor of the digital camera, amongst others. RPI is the first and only university in the world to house houses an IBM Quantum System One on its campus.