La Trobe University and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani have renewed their partnership through the Asian Smart Cities Research and Innovation Network (ASCRIN), reinforcing a shared commitment to impact-driven research, innovation and doctoral training focused on solving real-world challenges.
The renewed agreement builds on the success of the ASCRIN Joint PhD Program (JDP), a flagship Australia-India research collaboration that has attracted 143 research proposals and supported 40 collaborative research projects across artificial intelligence, health technologies, sustainable infrastructure, food systems, energy, water and urban resilience.
The program has brought together expertise from nine BITS Pilani departments and seven La Trobe schools and research institutes, highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of the collaboration.
ASCRIN is La Trobe’s largest research global initiative and focuses on applied research at scale, with an impact-based approach to solving problems facing communities through joint investment of La Trobe and Indian partners, industry engagement and implementation-oriented innovation.
Current collaborative research projects critical to Australia and India include:
- Data-driven dairy supply chains to improve food quality, safety and productivity
- Energy, water and circular economy solutions that support sustainability and resource resilience
- Sustainable construction materials and smart infrastructure for more resilient cities
- Battery-free wearable technologies to improve healthcare access and monitoring
- Innovative public health diagnostics and therapeutics
Professor Theo Farrell, Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University, said the partnership reflects the growing importance of long-term research and innovation links between Australia and India.
“At La Trobe, we see universities as engines of change, where research meets real-world need and the right partnerships multiply impact. Our partnership with BITS Pilani brings together world-class research capability and innovation. The success of the Joint PhD Program provides a strong foundation for an ambitious next phase of collaboration focused on research excellence, talent development and real-world impact.”
Professor V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, said the partnership demonstrates the value of combining multidisciplinary research with innovation to address complex challenges.
“The ASCRIN partnership has created valuable opportunities for researchers and students from both institutions to work across disciplines and develop solutions to challenges of growing importance to communities, industry and government. As we renew this partnership, we look forward to exploring opportunities to expand doctoral training, develop new educational pathways and pursue major collaborative initiatives in artificial intelligence and other emerging areas of strategic importance.”
Building on the success of the ASCRIN Joint PhD Program, both universities have agreed to explore opportunities to scale up doctoral training pathways, examine future joint educational initiatives, including joint master’s opportunities, and pursue major multidisciplinary research collaborations aligned with shared strategic priorities.
The renewed partnership reflects a shared ambition to strengthen Australia-India collaboration in research and innovation while creating new opportunities for researchers, students, industry and entrepreneurs to work together on challenges of global significance.
About La Trobe
La Trobe University is a top 1% globally ranked, research-intensive Australian university with more than 30 years of sustained engagement with India across education, research, and innovation. Its activity in India is supported by long-standing institutional relationships and a network of more than 12,000 India-born alumni, reflecting deep and continuing academic collaboration between the two countries. Its partnerships in India include a NEP 2020-aligned Joint Bachelor of Civil Engineering (2+2) program with Mahindra University, an Accelerated Juris Doctor partnership with OP Jindal Global University and a long-standing academic relationship with Lady Shri Ram College established in 1995.
In research and innovation, La Trobe spearheads the Bio Innovation Corridor with BIRAC and the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre to support India-Australia research translation and collaboration. The University also supports the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship for women researchers from India.
About BITS Pilani
BITS Pilani is an Institution of Eminence and one of India’s leading higher education institutions, recognised globally for excellence in science, engineering, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Through its campuses in Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai, BITS Pilani has built a strong reputation for research excellence, industry engagement and fostering innovation-led impact through education, research, and entrepreneurship.
