As a major step toward fostering scientific cooperation between India and the United Kingdom, Imperial College London has officially opened its new science center, Imperial Global India, in Bengaluru. The hub, which will function as a liaison office, is intended to foster current collaborations with major Indian institutions and jointly develop innovative research to address some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as climate change, sustainability, food and water security, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

The recently established Imperial Global India hub strives to serve as a hub for enhancing academic and industrial relationships between Imperial and Indian partners. It will fund a variety of activities, such as cooperative PhD programs, fellowships, scholarships, long-term strategic partnerships, and joint research endeavors. The center represents a major advancement in strengthening science diplomacy between the two countries, with a special emphasis on innovation in science and technology. 

The India Connect Fund, which will support up to 25 collaborative research initiatives each year in developing fields like artificial intelligence, quantum science, biotechnology, and clean energy, is the cornerstone of this partnership. Imperial has also introduced the Future Leaders Scholarship, its biggest scholarship program ever for Indian students in STEMB (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Business), which will provide financial assistance to 75 scholars over the next five years. 

The establishment of six Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Global Faculty Fellowships in partnership with the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is another noteworthy aspect of the program. In order to foster interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence and the life sciences, this will aid in the creation of a strong London-Bengaluru AI in Science Network. Additionally, the hub intends to fund a Global Challenge Lab program that will bring together hundreds of students from India and the UK each year to collaborate on creative solutions that are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Imperial is also establishing a collaborative PhD program with IISc in order to advance its dedication to providing excellent research training. The objective of this project is to create robust doctoral training programs in science and technology, and it will feature a Global Fellows program to facilitate research exchanges between Indian and British labs. 

The Science Gallery Bengaluru hosted the formal debut of Imperial Global India, which was attended by a number of notable people, including business executives, legislators, educators, and scientists. Among the notable guests were Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy, Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Agnikul Cosmos co-founder Srinath Ravichandran, Meesho founder and CEO Vidit Aatrey, and associate professor at NCBS and Schmidt AI Fellow Anjana Badrinarayanan. Priyank Kharge, the Minister for Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology, and Dr. M. C. Sudhakar, the Minister for Higher Education, were among those representing the Karnataka government. 

The event was presided over by Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, Vindi Banga, Chair of Imperial’s Council, and the hub’s academic co-directors, Professor Sanjeev Gupta and Dr. Elena Dieckmann. The new hub’s critical role in promoting innovation and tackling difficult global problems was highlighted by Prof. Brady in his speech. He stated that the project will contribute to finding answers in areas including health-tech, biotechnology, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals, telecommunications, and advanced materials. 

“We will promote flagship programs that bring together talented individuals from the UK and India via Imperial Global India. These partnerships will be essential in addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the globe, according to Prof. Brady. 

Furthermore, the new center will act as a crucial conduit for Imperial to connect with Indian industry and policymakers, as well as to promote the goals of the UK and Indian governments for closer scientific and technological collaboration. Imperial has strong strategic alliances with IISc as well as well established connections to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other prestigious universities such as the Christian Medical College, Vellore, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). 

Researchers at Imperial College are now working with over 400 organizations throughout India. IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, AIIMS, and CMC Vellore are among the most productive partners. These collaborations cover a wide range of fields and highlight the increasing significance of international scientific collaboration in addressing shared global issues. 

The Imperial-Tata Steel Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Design and Manufacturing is a prime example of such collaboration. It is developing next-generation manufacturing processes to help decarbonize steel production. This is consistent with Imperial’s overarching Science for Humanity strategy, which aims to establish a network of scientific centers across the world in order to optimize the university’s global impact. 

Joining the university’s growing network of worldwide hubs in major innovation hubs like San Francisco (USA), Singapore, and Accra (Ghana) is Imperial Global India. The Bengaluru hub is more than simply an academic bridge; it is a long-term investment in sustainable development, innovation, and a shared future of scientific brilliance between the UK and India.