MoU between Deakin University and Indian Oil

Deakin University has further strengthened its research partnerships in India with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL) on 17 January 2010.

Professor Lee Astheimer, Deakin University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Dr R K Malhotra, Executive Director Indian Oil Research & Development (R&D), signed the MoU on behalf of the two organisations. IOCL is considered to be one of the leading energy companies in India and is ranked 105 in the Fortune 500 Global company rankings.

The new partnership, an extension of the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI), will bring researchers working with Indian Oil to Deakin under Indian Oil Golden Jubilee Research Fellowships.

"We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with Indian Oil and to be announcing the Indian Oil Golden Jubilee Research Fellowships," said Professor Astheimer at the signing of the MoU at the Hotel Cidade de, Goa.

"At Deakin, we see DIRI as a very genuine and reciprocal partnership between our University and Indian industry.

"We are very willing to help India train the young people it needs to meet the demands of its rapidly growing economy.

"At the same time we are aware that this partnership will help Australian industries find future markets in the dynamic Indian market place."

Dr R K Malhotra said: "The Indian Oil R&D team believes Deakin University is a highly regarded research institute that has shown a great willingness to work with industry here in India, just as it works closely with industry in Australia."

As well as the signing of the MoU, a highlight of the day was an address by Professor Peter Hodgson, inaugural director of Deakin University's Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (ITRI).

The topic was: Developing effective Industry-Academia Research Partnerships.

"This is a key component of the way Deakin goes about its research," said Professor Hodgson. "It is working very effectively for us in Australia and through this MoU and a number of other fantastic initiatives we have underway here, it is working in India.

"We already have more than 20 postgraduate researchers from India within ITRI, based at the Geelong Technology Precinct at Deakin's Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds.

"They are really enjoying working in Australia in a way that can enhance both their career and also add to the future economic wellbeing of India.

"I have been to India 36 times in the past five years as we have built up our relationship with industry here. It is very obvious to me that the commitment on both sides to work together is both a very genuine one, and a reciprocal one. The Indian Oil Golden Jubilee Research Fellowships are a wonderful confirmation of this."