Highlights:
- IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury signed a Letter of Intent.
- Partnership focuses on AI, engineering, and scientific research.
- Faculty exchanges and joint research will begin first.
- IIT Bombay plans its first overseas academic presence in the US.
- Leaders from both countries praised the collaboration.
For decades, the United States and India have strengthened ties in technology, innovation, and higher education. Their universities have increasingly become important partners in preparing students for industries driven by artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, clean technology, and scientific research. The latest collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury represents another significant step in that relationship.
The two institutions announced a Letter of Intent on Friday (26) to jointly develop new educational and research opportunities at SUNY Old Westbury's campus on Long Island, New York. The agreement was signed by IIT Bombay director Prof. Shireesh Kedare and SUNY Old Westbury President Dr. Timothy E. Sams in the presence of India's Consul General in New York, Binaya Pradhan. Senior education officials from India also joined the announcement virtually. The partnership reflects the growing emphasis both countries place on expanding academic cooperation in science and engineering.
Building a new academic bridge
The collaboration will focus on creating academic programs in science and engineering at undergraduate, graduate, and research levels. Artificial intelligence will be one of the first major areas of study. The institutions also plan to explore sustainability, clean technology, and other emerging scientific fields as the partnership grows.
SUNY Old Westbury said the first phase of the partnership will include faculty exchanges, researcher visits, collaborative research projects, and jointly organized conferences and symposiums. These activities will help both institutions establish long-term research relationships before launching full academic degree programs.
Reports indicate that IIT Bombay expects to begin with certificate programs as early as 2027 before expanding into broader academic offerings. Those future programs are expected to be open to students from both the United States and abroad. Unlike IIT Bombay's traditional admissions process in India, enrollment at the US campus is expected to follow a separate admission system.
Why this partnership matters
The agreement reflects a broader trend in US-India relations. Both governments have identified education, research, and technology as pillars of their strategic partnership. Universities increasingly serve as platforms for innovation while helping develop a highly skilled workforce for industries experiencing rapid technological change.
India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the initiative, saying the institutions will “explore collaboration in engineering, multidisciplinary research, technology and other emerging areas of the future.”
“Such collaborations enrich our research culture, open new avenues for our students, scholars and learners and build enduring bridges of knowledge to address global challenges while carrying India's intellectual strengths to the world,” he said in a post on X.
Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra emphasized the importance of expanding academic and technological cooperation between the two institutions. Higher Education Secretary Dr. Vineet Joshi described the agreement as a “new and proud” chapter in India-US higher education and research cooperation.
For American students, the partnership could provide greater access to one of the world's most respected engineering institutions without leaving the United States. For Indian researchers, it creates new opportunities to collaborate with American faculty and laboratories while strengthening innovation across both countries.
Looking toward the future
IIT Bombay has long been recognized as one of India's leading engineering and technology institutions. Its graduates have played major roles in Silicon Valley, American research universities, and global technology companies. Establishing an academic presence in the United States represents a significant milestone for the institute's international expansion.
“IIT Bombay is excited to work with SUNY Old Westbury, whose leadership is committed to quality education and is forward-looking in its outlook,” Kedare said. “Considering that our strengths are complementary, we believe that our partnership has the ability to scale great heights.”
Sams also emphasized the long-term vision behind the collaboration.
Describing IIT Bombay as a world-class institution, Sams said his institute is excited to establish a direct partnership that advances teaching, innovation and excellence in disciplines like physics and engineering with a goal of creating a “robust IIT Bombay presence on our campus so that together we can prepare the next generation of leaders who will fuel success across our region, state, nation and world.”
The partnership also aligns with SUNY Old Westbury's broader strategy of expanding research collaborations. The university has recently developed similar partnerships with leading research organizations to strengthen STEM education and create more opportunities for students.
While many details remain under development, both institutions have made clear that the collaboration extends beyond student exchanges. It aims to create a long-term ecosystem for research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. As the United States and India continue expanding cooperation in critical technologies, the IIT Bombay-SUNY Old Westbury partnership may become a model for future academic collaborations between the world's two largest democracies.
