Gandhinagar,Sep 18: The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration in research, technology, capacity building and professional development.
The MoU was signed by Sunil Joshi, IPS, Deputy Inspector General, Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, and Prof Vimal Mishra, Dean R&D, in the presence of in the presence of Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN; Prof Sivapriya Kirubakaran, Chemistry, IITGN; Mr Siddharth Korukonda, IPS, Gujarat ATS; Mr Anand Pandey, Chief Operating Officer, IIEC, IITGN and other faculty members on September 15, 2026.
The partnership will provide a framework for the two organisations to undertake initiatives including joint research and development projects, specialised workshops, webinars and capacity-building programmes for working professionals and students. The R&D activities will be aligned with areas relevant to Gujarat ATS and may involve researchers, subject matter experts and professionals from both organisations.
“For us, this partnership is about taking research and technology beyond the laboratory and connecting it with real-world needs. Gujarat ATS brings valuable domain expertise and practical challenges, while IIT Gandhinagar can contribute through its research, technology and academic capabilities. We hope this collaboration will create meaningful opportunities for joint research, professional learning and for our students and researchers to engage with challenges that have a direct relevance to society,” said Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN.
“The MoU brings together IIT Gandhinagar’s research capabilities and Gujarat ATS’s domain expertise to explore opportunities for joint R&D and technology-driven solutions. It also opens avenues for knowledge exchange and greater engagement of our students and researchers with real-world challenges,” said Prof Vimal Mishra, Dean R&D, IITGN.
According to Mr Sunil Joshi, IPS, Deputy Inspector General, Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, Project Spandan, driven by the strategic vision of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Director General of Police, Gujarat, marks a fundamental shift towards bringing advanced research into modern policing. He said the collaboration with premier institutions such as IIT Gandhinagar would help bridge the gap between academic expertise and the operational challenges faced by Gujarat ATS in the area of national security.
“It is a true convergence of science and strategy. By bringing our on-ground challenges to top academic minds, we will co-develop bespoke, actionable tools for intelligence and digital investigations,” he said, adding that the effort would directly empower frontline officers and strengthen operational capabilities.
As part of the partnership, Gujarat ATS personnel will have opportunities for professional development through IITGN’s Executive Masters and other academic programmes. Subject matter experts from Gujarat ATS may also contribute to IITGN’s online courses through special lectures and as instructors or co-instructors. They may also provide inputs for curricula for professional online degree programmes such as e-Masters or equivalent programmes.
The partnership will also provide opportunities for IITGN students to seek internships and job opportunities with Gujarat ATS, subject to fulfilling the requisite eligibility and selection process.
Areas of potential collaboration include Energy Policy and Regulation, Data Science and Decision Making, Applications of Machine Learning in Engineering, Composites, Energy Sustainability and Computational Fluid Dynamics
The MoU includes provisions related to confidentiality, publications, intellectual property rights and sharing of financial benefits. Specific terms for individual projects and activities will be mutually agreed upon before their commencement.
The agreement shall be effective for a period of three years from the effective date unless extended, amended or terminated by mutual agreement.