National, 19th March: John Cockerill Group, a pioneer in developing and implementing large scale technological solutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), one of India’s foremost research and academic institutions. This strategic collaboration aims to drive innovation in steel decarbonization technology, green hydrogen value chain, and defense products development contributing to the growth of India’s infrastructure, national security, and sustainability agenda.

The MoU will facilitate joint research initiatives in steel decarbonisation technologies, green hydrogen value chain, and defense products development bringing together IIT Bombay’s academic excellence and John Cockerill’s cutting-edge engineering expertise. The partnership will focus on the development of new solutions to address the evolving needs of the global steel sector, especially in achieving sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. As a future perspective, this collaboration envisions support to the creation of Centres of Excellence dedicated in the future to steel technology, defense products, and green hydrogen value chain including production, storage, transportation, and usage.

Commenting on this significant collaboration, Vivek Bhide, Regional President, India, and Group Transformation Officer of John Cockerillsaid: “This MoU represents a pivotal step in our journey to co-create innovative solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges faced by the steel, energy, and defense sectors. By leveraging IIT Bombay’s academic excellence and our engineering expertise, we aim to unlock new opportunities for steel decarbonization, national security, and clean energy.”

Prof. Sachin Patwardhan, Dean (R&D), IIT Bombay, added: “IIT Bombay is committed to fostering industry-academia partnerships that bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world applications. This collaboration with John Cockerill Group aligns with our vision of driving translational research that contributes to technological advancements and industrial innovation. By combining our academic strengths with their engineering expertise, we aim to develop impactful solutions that address critical challenges and create meaningful societal benefits.”

This collaboration aligns with John Cockerill’s broader commitment to partner with India’s energy transition, focusing on green hydrogen applications, steel decarbonizing technologies, advanced defense products, and resource-efficient solutions. The collaboration also includes efforts to foster talent through internships, doctoral programs, and faculty development initiatives.