Furthering its tally of industry-academia partnerships, Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Ltd (JSHL) signed an MoU with Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur (MNIT). This three-year MoU was signed by Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, JSHL, Vijay Bindlish and Director, MNIT Jaipur, Prof Udaykumar R Yaragatti. With this partnership, JSHL envisions to take up research, new product development, solid waste management, and skill development along with MNIT. As part of the MoU, JSHL will provide industry expertise, raw material, and infrastructure, while MNIT will bring in its technical and educational proficiency.
Vijay Bindlish, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, JSHL, said, “As pioneers of the Indian stainless steel industry, we take pride in endorsing sustainable initiatives for our nation’s development. Under this MoU, we will initiate a series of innovative projects with MNIT by bridging our infrastructural and industrial excellence and MNIT’s technical and educational prowess. I am certain that this initiative will help develop an ecosystem of practical knowledge, innovation, and sustainability aided by the youth of the country.”
“This collaboration with JSHL is a milestone in MNIT’s history. With this innovative partnership our students will be exposed to hands-on industry experience, beyond academics, before they enter their fields of choice as professionals. This will help them train better and excel at industrial practises. I am certain that this will enable them aid the society at large.” said Prof Udaykumar R Yaragatti, Director, MNIT Jaipur, at the MoU signing ceremony in Jaipur.
Kicking-off this partnership with its first project, the two organizations aim to develop geopolymer, a sustainable alternate to portland cement used in the construction sector. An increasing use of portland cement in concrete production extensively emits greenhouse gases. To minimize the environmental impact caused by this, JSHL and MNIT have prepared a research proposal for developing geopolymers using refined waste material from Effluent Treatment Plant Sludge (ETPS), Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) slag and fly ash from JSHL’s thermal power plants. Under this ‘waste to wealth’ initiative, the two organisations have submitted a research proposal to the Ministry of Steel, Government of India in line with the government’s Promotion of Research & Development in Iron & Steel Sector scheme.
Among several projects planned under the MoU, JSHL will organise national seminars and take up workshops for awareness and skill development for students and fabricators. Moreover, MNIT will introduce short-term diploma courses in its curriculum which will be supported by JSHL. In the past, the Company has inked MoUs with eminent institutions of the country including IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT BHU, OP Jindal University, Raigarh, UPES Dehradun, etc.