Imperial – ranked second best university in the world and top in the UK in the latest QS World University rankings – will establish its Indian hub in Bengaluru to strengthen scientific, education and innovation partnerships between India and the UK. The new hub, Imperial Global India, builds on longstanding links between the university and partners in India.
The hub – established as a Liaison Office – will focus on strengthening and co-creating new research partnerships between Imperial and leading universities and institutes in India, act as a communication channel to form closer ties with industry and policymakers, and provide a platform for greater collaboration in innovation between India and the UK.
The hub initiative will be spearheaded by Professor Sanjeev Gupta and Dr Elena Dieckmann. Professor Gupta is an Earth Scientist who has researched the role of rivers on early civilisations in the Ganga basin and quantifying groundwater depletion with researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. Dr Dieckmann’s research interests lie in biomaterials and the circular economy and is currently working with researchers in India to repurpose waste solar panels for new architectural applications. Both academics will spend time in India to engage with partners and collaborators.
Imperial already has a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, that is supporting joint research projects in a range of scientific areas.
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: “Imperial Global India will be a launchpad for powerful new collaborations in research, innovation and education between the UK and India.
“The hub will open communication channels with researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry to apply cutting-edge science, technology and engineering solutions to shared global challenges in areas such as telecommunications, critical minerals, semiconductors, AI, quantum, biotechnology and advanced materials.
“Our ambition is to strengthen the bridge between the UK and India to drive economic growth and prosperity, create a more sustainable and resilient world and enhance the quality of life for billions of people.”
Professor Sanjeev Gupta, the Academic Co-Director for Imperial Global India, said: “India is buzzing with scientific creativity and technological innovation. Our aim is to build on our longstanding collaborations to forge deep and sustainable connections with academic and industry partners. We will apply our combined strengths, especially in emerging technologies, to tackle global challenges, such as how we will live in a changing global climate and how to meet our future energy needs.”
Dr Elena Dieckmann, the Academic Co-Director for Imperial Global India, said: “The vision for Imperial Global India is incredibly exciting, particularly the potential to co-create and learn from the entrepreneurs in India’s fast-paced and rapidly expanding innovation community. I see great synergy with Imperial’s ability to take early discovery science and transform it into real-world technologies and applications.”
The two countries’ governments share ambitions for deeper collaboration on science to drive economic growth, create skilled jobs and improve lives in the UK, India and worldwide.
Through the hub Imperial will seek to develop joint projects that align with the UK-India Technology Security Initiative in areas ranging from telecoms, AI, quantum, biotech and critical minerals.
Imperial Global India will launch with a special event in Bengaluru on Wednesday 21 May 2025. The launch event will convene leaders from across academia, business, industry and policy to explore the next frontiers of UK-India convergence science and innovation for a more resilient world.
