UTBM Hosts IIT Madras to Strengthen Scientific and Academic Ties

In late May, the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard was pleased to welcome Prof. Abdus SAMAD from theIndian Institute of Technology Madras(IIT Madras) as part of exploratory discussions aimed at establishing an academic and scientific partnership between our two institutions.

This visit is part of an effort to strengthen international cooperation. Abdus SAMAD was welcomed by Dr. Issam SALHI, a professor at UTBM and researcher atFEMTO-ST, as well as the team from UTBM’s Office of International Relations and Internationalization (DRII), led by Prof. Franck GECHTER. He had the opportunity to explore several of our cutting-edge technology platforms, particularly those focused on energy, computer science, and hydrogen. These visits helped identify concrete synergies between the research areas of the two institutions.

The first milestone in this collaboration has already been reached: a joint research project—which also involves a third Indian partner—was submitted last March. The three institutions are currently awaiting the funding committee’s decision, hoping that the project will receive funding in the coming months.

This meeting marks an important step toward establishing a future collaboration agreement between UTBM and IIT Madras. We extend our warmest thanks to Abdus SAMAD for his visit and his commitment, as well as to the Indian Institute of Technology Madras for its openness to this cooperation. A big thank you also goes to Franck GECHTER, Pauline DOXIN, and Natallia BOLLE, as well as the entire staff of the DRII, for their work toward the internationalization of our institution.