The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has partnered with Indus Towers Limited to launch two new research projects focused on renewable energy. Indus Towers, a leading telecom infrastructure company, is supporting this work through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, Pragati.
The collaboration aims to find practical solutions for clean energy. It responds to the growing need to tackle climate change and meet rising energy demands. Indus Towers’ Managing Director and CEO, Prachur Sah, said the partnership shows the importance of industry and academic institutions working together. He pointed out two main research areas: improving Perovskite Solar Cell technology and using agricultural waste to develop energy storage systems.
One project will focus on Perovskite Solar Cells. These next-generation solar panels could offer better efficiency than traditional silicon-based panels. They also promise to keep production costs low. The research team plans to use this technology in both land-based and space-based solar systems. The entire development will be done using local resources and expertise.
The second project will work on turning rice straw, a common agricultural byproduct, into hard carbon material. This carbon will be used in sodium-ion batteries, which are more affordable and sustainable than lithium-ion batteries. The process could also help solve the problem of stubble burning, which harms air quality and the environment.
Prof. Ravindra Gudi, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Bombay, stressed the value of meaningful research and partnerships. He said collaborations like this show how academia and industry can join forces to address major challenges, especially in clean energy.
This partnership also strengthens IIT Bombay’s role as a hub for applied research and innovation. By combining technical know-how with corporate funding, the goal is to turn scientific ideas into technologies that can be used on a large scale. It highlights how corporate support can speed up the move toward self-reliant and sustainable energy solutions in India.
