Rolls-Royce, IIT-B ink strategic tech pact

Mumbai: The Rolls-Royce and Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) have signed a pact to foster knowledge exchange, drive innovation and together develop future-ready engineering talent, officials said here.

The move, which underscores the growing synergy between Indian academic institutions and global industry leaders, will allow IIT-B students to get internship opportunities with Rolls-Royce’ defence engineering team in Bengaluru, plus gain exposure to advanced tech development in modern day real-world industrial settings.

This collaboration also aims to open doors for joint research projects, skill-building programmes, and technology co-creation in areas of mutual interest, said the officials.

The agreement was signed by IIT-B’s Dean (Research & Development) Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan and Rolls-Royce India Executive Vice-President G. S. Selwyn, in the presence of the Rolls-Royce Director of Business Development and Future Programmes (UK & International) Alex Zino, besides senior representatives from both sides.

“The partnership with IIT-B reflects our broader commitment to building strategic collaborations that advance shared ambitions in innovation, talent development, and technology leadership,” said Selwyn on the occasion.

He said that as his company deepens its engagement with India, initiatives such as this would “help unlock new opportunities to co-create solutions,” through structured engagement between the academic and industrial ecosystems.

The second oldest in India, IIT-B at Powai was established in 1958 and ranks among the  premier engineering institutions, world-renowned for producing top-tier graduates and groundbreaking research in multiple streams.

It has consistently ranked among the best engineering universities in Asia and recognised for its strong industry linkages, state-of-the-art research facilities, and a vibrant culture of innovation.

IIT-B has multiple Centres of Excellence, fostering advances in fields ranging from aerospace engineering to AI and sustainability, and its alumni have gone on to captain global technology companies, research institutions, and government bodies.

Started as a luxury car manufacturing company some 120 years ago in the United Kingdom, today Rolls-Royce is a global leader in power and propulsion technologies serving markets ranging from civil and defence aerospace to marine engineering.

Years ago, Rolls-Royce had supplied engines for the Indian Air Force’s first combat aircraft, the Jaguar, and other fighter planes. The company’s Bengaluru engineering centre is a hub for innovation in defence aerospace delivering solutions for both Indian and international programmes.

Experts consider the new partnership ‘crucial’ as India’s engineering and technological ecosystem is in a transformative stage, driven by a push for indigenous capability development and supported by a growing pool of highly talented engineers.

“Such collaborations between IIT-B and Rolls-Royce are viewed as essential to narrow the gap between academic research and industrial applications, enhance talent readiness and accelerate the translation of theoretical breakthroughs into deployable technologies,” remarked a technocrat.