President Mung Chiang led a high-level delegation on a three-day visit to India last week / Purdue University

In a significant move to expand Purdue University’s global leadership in innovation and business, president Mung Chiang led a high-level delegation on a three-day visit to India last week. 

The visit aimed to solidify Purdue’s role as a key partner in India’s rapidly growing semiconductor, finance, and emerging technology sectors. This marks a new chapter in Purdue’s 125-year relationship with India, dating back to its first Indian students.

The Purdue leadership team held 12 high-level meetings across Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai, engaging with Indian government officials, top academic institutions, and industry leaders. These discussions centered on collaboration in education, expanding joint research and development (R&D) initiatives, and exploring new opportunities in critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, finance, and aerospace.

A highlight of the trip was Purdue’s participation in the inaugural SEMICON India Conference, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conference showcased Purdue’s milestone partnership with the India Semiconductor Mission. 

In May 2023, Purdue became the flagship academic partner on semiconductors with the Government of India, facilitating joint R&D, education, and talent development in this essential field.

During the visit, president Chiang held strategic talks with Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s minister for electronics and IT, to advance workforce development and R&D collaborations aimed at strengthening India’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain. 

Additionally, the delegation met with Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s minister of education, to discuss deepening educational partnerships under the country’s New Education Policy 2020. Discussions included plans for joint degree programs, long-term internships for Indian students at Purdue, and the creation of a global center of excellence in emerging technologies.

The Purdue team also met with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to explore collaboration on finance, supply chain innovation, and research under India’s newly established Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). In another key meeting, Ram Mohan Naidu, India’s new civil aviation minister and a Purdue alumnus, and Indian lawmaker Sribharat Mathukumilli joined discussions about aerospace and aviation partnerships.

Furthering strategic ties, the Purdue delegation met with India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, to discuss the Indo-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies, launched in January 2023. Purdue’s expertise in sectors like semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, and space was seen as crucial to enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

The delegation was also hosted by US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, at his Delhi residence, where discussions emphasized Purdue’s role in shaping Indo-US collaboration. Chiang invited Garcetti to visit Purdue, and the ambassador expressed strong support for establishing the first Indo-US global challenge institute on semiconductors.

Another key meeting was with Abhay Karandikar, India’s secretary of science and technology, where both sides reinforced the success of the Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship program, which brings 25 Indian doctoral candidates to Purdue each year for research collaboration.

At a Boilermaker reception in Mumbai, Purdue unveiled plans to establish an office in India, underscoring its commitment to expanding its global footprint. India remains a cornerstone of Purdue’s global strategy, and the university is set to deepen its ties across academia, government, and industry.

“The 125-year partnership between Purdue University and India, spread across three centuries, reflects shared values of innovation, excellence, and leadership,” said Chiang. “Our recent visit has laid the groundwork for even deeper and broader collaboration in the years ahead, and we are excited to partner with universities, companies, government agencies, and alumni in India.”

Chiang was joined by key Purdue leaders, including Dimitrios Peroulis, senior vice president for partnerships and online; Alyssa Wilcox, senior vice president and university campaign planning committee chair; Vijay Raghunathan, vice president for global partnerships and director of semiconductor education; and Jim Bullard, dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business. 

Representatives from Purdue’s Krach Institute of Tech Diplomacy also participated in the India visit, further enhancing the Purdue-India collaboration.