The MoU for the seventh Space Technology Cell (STC) in the series was signed by Prof. Goutham Biswas, Director, IIT Guwahati and Dr P V Venkitakrishnan, Director, Capacity Building Programme Office (CBPO), ISRO HQ, on 24th May 2019 at IIT Guwahati. The other existing STCs are located at other premier institutions like IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay; IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee. Space Technology Cells set up in these premier institutes in the country play a major role in taking up the space technology research and applications to the newer heights.
While addressing the meeting at the MoU signing ceremony, Director, IIT Guwahati reiterated the scientific and technological expertise available in the institute especially in the areas of biosciences and engineering, chemical engineering, computer science and engineering, electronics and electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and physics. He informed that the institute has got 7th Engineering Rank and 12th overall NIRF ranking in the year 2018. He urged the faculty to come out with challenging proposals. Dr P V Venkitakrishnan, Director, CBPO mentioned about the vast scope available in ISRO in Research and Development domain in the emerging areas of science and technology.
These STCs are guided by Joint Policy Committees (JPC) chaired by Director of the respective institution and with members from ISRO/DOS & the respective institution. Under the STC, R & D projects relevant to space technology, space science and space applications will be taken up by the faculty of the Institute.