The University of Technology Sydney, one of Australia’s top ranked young university, has a strong collaborative relationship with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, reflecting a shared commitment to research excellence, industry engagement, and societal impact.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras - a globally recognised leader in engineering, technology, and advanced scientific research, together with UTS, has established multiple avenues for strategic collaboration, including a Key Technology Partnership, a Joint Research Centre and Joint PhD Program. This initiative is design to address real‑world challenges at an international scale, with research into applications of Artificial Intelligence for Humanity and broader interdisciplinary research. 

The Joint Research Centre enables PhD candidates from India and Australia to work collaboratively on cutting-edge research, while also providing a platform for industry partners to bring forward emerging projects that foster innovation, translational research, and global impact.

Key technology partner

IIT Madras and the University of Technology Sydney share a strategic partnership as key technology collaborators, bringing together complementary strengths in engineering, advanced technology, and high impact research. 

Built on a shared commitment to innovation, real world impact, and global engagement, the partnership supports joint research initiatives, collaborative PhD programs, and industry connected projects across priority technology domains. 

Through this collaboration, IIT Madras and UTS create strong pathways for talent development, knowledge exchange, and technological advancement, enabling researchers and students to address complex global challenges while strengthening academic–industry linkages across India and Australia.

Joint research centre

The Joint Research Centre between the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the University of Technology Sydney is dedicated to advancing research into applications of Artificial Intelligence for Humanity, bringing together world leading expertise from both institutions to develop innovative, ethical, and impactful AI driven solutions for global challenges.

The Centre focuses on interdisciplinary and industry connected research across key priority areas including:

  • Smart cities
  • Smart buildings
  • Agriculture
  • Renewable energy
  • Water engineering
  • Disaster management (floods, earthquakes, etc.)
  • Climate change mitigation
  • Responsible use of AI

Through this collaboration, the Joint Research Centre creates a strong platform for researchers, students, industry, and government partners to work together on high impact projects that improve sustainability, resilience, efficiency, and quality of life across communities worldwide.

Collaborative PhD opportunities

IIT Madras, in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney, offers high performing Indian students the opportunity to undertake a fully funded collaborative PhD, co located and co supervised between IIT Madras (India) and UTS (Australia).

This unique PhD program is designed for students who want to combine world class research with international experience. You will work closely with leading academics across both institutions, gain exposure to industry relevant research, and be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary research community.

Through this collaboration, students benefit from:

  • Joint supervision from IIT Madras and UTS academics
  • Access to advanced research facilities and global networks
  • Strong professional and research skills development
  • Clear pathways to careers in academia, industry, and innovation driven sectors

If you are motivated, research driven, and looking to make a global impact, this program offers an exceptional platform to develop as a future research leader.