In a landmark step to strengthen industry-academia collaboration in renewable energy research, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SJVN Limited to support advanced research in solar energy systems. Under the agreement, SJVN will provide research funding of Rs 4.15 crore to the Centre for Green Energy and Nanotechnology, HPU, marking one of the largest industry-sponsored research grants ever received by the university.
Speaking on the occasion, HPU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mahavir Singh described the collaboration as a transformative milestone in the university’s research journey. “This MoU signifies HPU’s growing stature as a hub for high-quality, application-oriented research and reflects our commitment to innovation-driven, interdisciplinary research aligned with national priorities,” he said.
He added that the partnership with SJVN, a leading public sector enterprise in the energy sector, would strengthen HPU’s research ecosystem and promote meaningful knowledge exchange between academia and industry. Prof Singh said such collaborations play a crucial role in translating fundamental research into scalable technologies, particularly in strategically important areas such as renewable and sustainable energy, contributing to India’s clean energy transition and energy security.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced that the university would accord special recognition to best researchers publishing in high-impact factor journals on its foundation day and facilitate opportunities for meritorious students to receive advanced training abroad at leading international research institutions.
Ajay Kumar Sharma, Director (Personnel), SJVN Limited, said this was the first time SJVN had extended such substantial support to a state university. “As the oldest university in the state, HPU has immense potential for cutting-edge research and innovation across nationally relevant domains. We are confident that the university will deliver impactful, outcome-oriented research under this collaboration,” he said.
The MoU focuses on a research project titled “Developing an Advanced Solar PV Research Ecosystem for Improved Performance and Reliability, Promoting Innovation, and Predictive Diagnostics Using AI Framework.” The project aims to enhance the performance, reliability and lifespan of solar photovoltaic systems through advanced scientific research, artificial intelligence and machine learning-based predictive diagnostics, and extensive field-level experimentation. Special emphasis will be placed on Agro-Photovoltaic and floating solar PV technologies.
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