Chandigarh, February 4, 2026
The PU–IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations (PI-RAHI) Foundation, Northern Region S&T Cluster, Chandigarh, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University (SBSSU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in skill development, research, innovation and community engagement.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Rajat Sandhir, Director, PI-RAHI, and Prof. Suresh Kumar Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SBSSU, in the presence of Prof Gazal Singh, Registrar, SBSSU, and Ms Neha Arora, Chief Operating Officer, PI-RAHI, along with officials from both institutions.
Under the agreement, PI-RAHI and SBSSU will jointly design and implement skill-oriented training programmes, workshops, short-term courses and certification modules aimed at enhancing professional competencies and providing practical exposure across emerging and traditional sectors. Special emphasis will be placed on capacity building in agriculture, drone technology and 3D technologies through the IDEA Lab.
The collaboration will also focus on promoting entrepreneurship and innovation through startup mentoring, incubation support, ideation workshops, business plan development and guidance on industry engagement and funding opportunities. PI-RAHI will facilitate internships, apprenticeships, fieldwork and experiential learning opportunities for SBSSU students by leveraging its industry, institutional and community networks. In addition, joint academic and capacity-building activities will be undertaken to promote knowledge exchange and academic quality.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rajat Sandhir said the MoU would help bridge the gap between academia, industry and society by creating meaningful opportunities for students and researchers. Dr Suresh Kumar Sharma highlighted that the collaboration would contribute significantly to skill development, innovation and regional growth, particularly in the border region of Punjab.
The MoU reflects the shared commitment of PI-RAHI and SBSSU to advancing education, research excellence and societal impact.
