Penn Engineering signs memorandum of understanding with Plaksha University to advance joint research

The School of Engineering and Applied Science signed a collaborative memorandum of understanding with Plaksha University in Mohali, India to promote international research collaboration. 

This agreement will enable faculty, researchers and students to engage in cross-cultural exchanges and advance research in both institutions, according to the Penn Engineering blog. Areas of focus for the collaboration will primarily be engineering health, data science, energy and sustainability.

“This new partnership with Plaksha University provides an exciting opportunity for us to engage with a diverse group of talented Indian students and faculty,” Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering Vijay Kumar, who is also a member of Plaksha’s Academic Advisory Board, said. 

The collaboration will aim to facilitate joint research initiatives, scholarly publications, and develop cooperative academic programs between Penn and Plaksha. 

Plaksha University is a research and technology institution located in the state of Punjab that opened in 2021. A group of entrepreneurs and businesspeople founded the university with the goal of providing innovative technology education. The founding group consists of over 100 members from business and academia. 

Plaksha currently offers four undergraduate degrees in technology, a year-long fellowship, a PhD program, and a two-week high school program. It has several research centers, focusing on topics ranging from clean energy to water security and sustainable architecture. The university's Academic Advisory Board includes company leaders and professors from institutions around the world. 

Plaksha aims to enroll 8,000 total students and have 500 faculty members by 2035, according to its website. 

“The partnership with Penn Engineering represents a milestone for Plaksha,” Rudra Pratap, Plaksha University’s founding vice chancellor, said. “By combining our strengths and resources, we are creating a strong framework for collaborative research and academic exchange that will enrich our faculty and students alike. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will unlock.”