The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad has taken a significant step toward strengthening its national leadership in energy-sector research and technological innovation by signing a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC). This agreement aims to deepen industry–academia collaboration and accelerate indigenous R&D for India’s energy future.
The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Keka Ojha, Dean (Continuing Education Program), IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and Shri Kuldip Mukherji, Chief, Production JV Asset & Business Development Group (PJVA&BD), ONGC. The signing ceremony was graced by Shri Arunangshu Sarkar, Director (Strategy & Corporate Affairs), ONGC, and Prof. Vikas Mahto, Head, Department of Petroleum Engineering, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
Established in 1926, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has a distinguished global reputation in earth sciences, mining, exploration, and petroleum engineering. For decades, the Institute has served as a premier knowledge partner to the nation’s energy sector. The newly signed MoU further reinforces its commitment to contributing advanced scientific understanding, cutting-edge technologies, and highly skilled human resources to India’s hydrocarbon industry.
This collaboration will pave the way for joint research, consultancy, technology development, and academic engagement across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. Key focus areas include geosciences, engineering design, chemical and process technologies, remote sensing and GIS applications, alternative and renewable energy, critical minerals, coal gasification, and coal bed methane (CBM), along with other emerging themes of national priority.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director (Strategy & Corporate Affairs), ONGC, expressed confidence that the partnership will act as a catalyst for next-generation research and technological advancements in the exploration and production domain. He appreciated the strong support IIT (ISM) has consistently extended to ONGC and acknowledged the Institute’s pivotal role in shaping India’s energy capabilities.
For IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, this MoU reaffirms its mission to drive scientific innovation and foster impactful collaborations with leading industry partners. The Institute looks forward to working closely with ONGC to develop scalable, sustainable, and high-impact technological solutions to support India’s rapidly growing energy needs.