New Delhi : The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India and Deakin University, Australia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today to announce the setting up of a Centre of Excellence, the TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Research Centre in the field of Nano Biotechnology in India. This development is an outcome of TERI’s core capability of knowledge creation and development of efficient, environment friendly technologies and Deakin’s India Research Initiative (DIRI) which is committed towards establishing a lasting association with industry partners in India to chart a vibrant culture of research and scholastic excellence.

The initiative is also aimed at bridging the gap between industry and academia through research and collaboration of world leading experts, which will enable efficiency, effectiveness and provide solutions for a sustainable future through the utilization of biotechnology. The TERI- Deakin Nano Biotechnology Research Centre will bring to the fore Deakin’s expertise in the design and characterization of novel nanomaterials while TERI’s Biotechnology and Management of Bioresource Division (BMBD) will bring their wealth of experience in biotech applications in pharmacology, food, agriculture and environmental areas.

The centre will be located at TERI Gram, Gurgaon and envisages that within five years the centre will have approximately 70 researchers including 50 PhD students enrolled at Deakin and co-supervised by Deakin and TERI practitioners.

On the occasion of the launch announcement, Dr. Alok Adholeya, Director, Biotechnology and Management of Bioresource Division, TERI said, “The relationship of TERI and Deakin University at this juncture is immensely timely, since the Nano-biotech sphere has to play a pivotal role in application research and ultimately to deliver products and processes those are highly environmental benign and efficient for mankind, specifically, in the health and food sector. The commitment and expertise of TERI and equally important contribution committed by Deakin University would pave the way to achieve the desired goals.”

Professor Den Hollander Vice-Chancellor and President of Deakin University was excited as well about this partnership and said, ‘Alfred Deakin first recognized the possibilities of India and Australia working together nearly 120 years ago. It is pleasing for everyone at Deakin and TERI to be involved in a partnership that not only fulfils his prophecies but which has mutual benefits for both nations,” She further added, ’For Deakin to be partnered with such an organization led by a man of Dr. Pachauri’s standing is a massive complement. We hope to use the agreement with TERI as a model for other partners.’

“Research at TERI seeks to find solutions to problems related to attaining sustainability and environmental degradation and has made a difference to the lives of many people” said, Dr. R K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI. He highlighted that “the organization’s commitment to these areas is a continuous process, and setting up the TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Research Centre is one of the means through which, TERI plans to create capacity and expertise for technological solutions to problems of inefficient use of natural resources.”

Understanding the physico-chemical interactions of various molecular materials and their behavior in biological systems presents a range of exciting research problems within ‘bio-nanotechnology’ that the new TERI-Deakin research centre aims to address. This technology is viewed to go a long way in helping a country’s food security issue, provide benefits in the area of health as well as addres environmental issues. There is substantial interest across India in this new field of research as well as in Australia. More prominently, the initiative intends to aim and address areas of mutual interests.