University of Groningen-19 IITs signed MoU
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has strengthened India–Netherlands scientific cooperation in clean energy with the launch of the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme, and the hosting of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Groningen and 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to establish an enabling academic cooperation framework in green energy and hydrogen research.
The India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme for which the Scheme Guidelines and Call for Proposals (CFP) was released 6 Feb, is a national capacity-building initiative open to eligible Indian doctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty applicants across institutions.
The fellowship programme was launched by Secretary Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Abhay Karandikar in the presence of Huib Mijnarends, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India.
While launching the programme, Prof. Karandikar said that focused international collaboration and targeted capacity-building initiatives are critical for advancing hydrogen technologies from research to deployment, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors aligned with India’s clean energy transition goals.
Huib Mijnarends, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, emphasised the alignment of Indo-Dutch cooperation in hydrogen and energy transition. Prof Dr Jouke de Vries, President, University of Groningen, underlined the role of sustained academic partnerships in addressing global energy challenges.
The India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme aims to strengthen India’s deployment readiness in hydrogen technologies through structured exposure to advanced hydrogen ecosystems in the Netherlands, with emphasis on system integration, safety, techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, and indigenisation pathways. The fellowship is designed to ensure that research outcomes directly contribute to national clean energy priorities.
DST also hosted the signing of the institution-to-institution MoU between the University of Groningen and 19 IITs, establishing an enabling framework for long-term academic cooperation in hydrogen and green energy research. The MoU would facilitate faculty and student exchange, joint research, and knowledge sharing, and operates without automatic financial commitments.
The high-level engagement reflected the shared commitment of India and the Netherlands to advance research, capacity building, and deployment-oriented innovation in green hydrogen, aligned with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, Energy Independence 2047, and Net-Zero 2070 objectives.
Professor Dhirendra S. Katti, Director IIT Goa; Prof Venkappayya R. Desai, Director IIT Dharwad; Dr Anita Gupta, Head CEST Division, DST; Dr Ranjith Krishna Pai, Senior Director, HVIC and HFC Program Officer, CEST, DST and senior officials from other IITs were also present at the event.
The initiatives mark a significant step in deepening Indo-Dutch collaboration and strengthening human capital for the emerging global hydrogen economy, the Ministry of Science & Technology said. fiinews.com
