Fraunhofer signs MoUs with IIT Ropar and BITS Pilani on Sustainability and Circular Economy

Fraunhofer signs MoUs with IIT Ropar and BITS Pilani on Sustainability and Circular Economy

The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB has entered into strategic
partnerships with two of the most premier technology universities in India, the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT) Ropar and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani. The MoUs were signed on February 05,
2025 at the German Embassy during the visit of Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs,
Labour and Housing of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Germany to India. She led a high-level delegation from
the state of Baden-Württemberg to India to formalize strategic alliances between India and Germany in the field
of Circular Economy and Sustainability, and among others was accompanied by Dr. Hannes Spieth, Managing
Director of Umwelttechnik BW, Germany.

The MoU signing ceremony was graced by the signatories, chief coordinators from the three institutes and senior
officials from the Government of India and Germany. Representing Fraunhofer Gesellschaft were Dr. Markus
Wolperdinger, Director of Fraunhofer IGB and Ms. Anandi Iyer, Director of Fraunhofer Office India. IIT Ropar was
represented by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, along with Prof. Pushpendra Singh, Dean – R&D and Associate
Professor. Prof. Srikanth Mutnuri, Dean International Programmes and Collaboration Division represented BITS
Pilani.

The collaboration between Fraunhofer and IIT Ropar, as well as Fraunhofer and BITS Pilani, aims to leverage
complementary strengths from both countries, creating a strong value proposition. This partnership will enhance
the implementation of best practices to optimize the water-energy-food nexus, fostering a competitive
advantage and accelerating the transition toward a sustainable and climate-neutral economy.

Key areas of cooperation between Fraunhofer IGB and IIT Ropar:
1. Collaborative Research & Development (R&D): Joint efforts in identifying technology gaps and further
improvement and development.
2. Technology Demonstration: Demonstration of technologies aimed at solving industry challenges within the
scope of two national mission of Government of India (i) Jal Jeevan Mission and (ii) Swachh Bharat Mission
(SBM).
3. Technology Licensing: Facilitation of technology transfer and licensing agreements with industry
stakeholders to promote large-scale adoption.
4. Training on Integrating Cyber-Physical System Technologies into the water ecosystem such as AI/ML,
Automation/ IoT.
5. Building Water Innovation CPS Facilities at IIT Ropar and contributing to the establishment of R&D base
6. Building Water Innovation Consortium/Hub/Alliance to bring key stakeholders together to address the key
challenges and addressing them through technology interventions.
Signing of MoU between IIT Ropar and Fraunhofer IGB Signing of MoU between BITS Pilani and Fraunhofer IGB

Key areas of cooperation between Fraunhofer IGB and BITS Pilani:
1. Technologies for environment and climate protection e.g. anaerobic membrane reactors for industrial
wastewater treatment, molecular monitoring for the capture / concentration of viruses / bacteria
2. Biofuels / aviation fuels
3. Lignocellulosic waste treatment
4. Development of a 3D bioprinting platform for mushroom-based materials
5. Biorefinery
6. Bioeconomy
7. Exchange of faculty and students
Speaking on the occasion;
Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Housing of the State of BadenWürttemberg, Germany said: "These collaborations are essential for tackling some of the world’s most pressing
challenges in health, water, energy, and sustainability. Fraunhofer has established itself as a global leader in applied
research. The cooperation with Indian institutions paves the way combining Fraunhofer’s technological expertise with
India’s technological expertise and its vast opportunities for growth and innovation. I am confident that together, they will
drive progress, sustainability, and innovation that will benefit not just our two countries, but the entire world."
Dr. Markus Wolperdinger, Director, Fraunhofer IGB said:“At the Fraunhofer IGB, our mission is to combine biology and
technology for healthy people in a healthy environment. With this mission in mind we’re focusing on technologies and
processes especially in the areas of the One-Health-approach, bio-based sustainable chemistry and environmental
protection, and most importantly, GreenTech solutions. Our partnership with India's leading institutions in biotechnology
and GreenTec, IIT Ropar and BITS Pilani, is a commitment to a shared vision. Together, we will be able to accelerate the
development of solutions that are both environmentally and economically viable.”
Ms. Anandi Iyer, Director, Fraunhofer Office India said: Fraunhofer is committed to the Innovation and Technology
growth story of India since 17 years and we are excited about our partnership on such an important topics as Sustainability
and circular economy with 2 of the finest institutions in India.
Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar said: "The signing of this MoU between IIT Ropar and the Fraunhofer Institute
marks a significant milestone in advancing technology and innovation for water sustainability. This partnership will foster
cutting-edge research, technological collaboration, and industry-driven solutions to address global water challenges. By
leveraging Fraunhofer's expertise in applied research and IIT Ropar’s Technology and Innovation Foundation (AWaDH)'s
leadership in water technology innovations, we aim to create a robust Water Innovation Ecosystem that supports
sustainable resource management, smart water infrastructure, and climate-resilient solutions. This collaboration is a
testament to our commitment to driving impactful advancements in water technology for a better future”.
Although unable to attend the ceremony in person due to prior commitments, Prof. V. Ramagopal Rao, Vice Chancellor,
BITS Pilani conveyed his message:“We are excited to sign this MoU which marks the beginning of a fruitful collaboration
between our institutions. We are delighted to partner with Fraunhofer Institute to leverage our collective strength and
expertise in the area of Biorefinery, Biofuels and Circular Economy. This collaboration is a significant milestone for fostering
innovation, research and academic excellence. We look forward to the many positive outcomes that will arise from this
collaboration which will benefit the society”.
This strategic partnership between Fraunhofer, IIT Ropar, and BITS Pilani marks a significant step in strengthening
Indo-German collaboration in the fields of Circular Economy, Bioeconomy and Sustainability. By combining cuttingedge research, technological innovation and shared expertise, this alliance aims to develop scalable solutions that
address global challenges in resource efficiency, climate resilience and sustainable development. As both nations
continue to advance their commitment to a greener future, such collaborations will play a crucial role in fostering
innovation, driving economic growth and accelerating the transition toward a climate-neutral and sustainable
economy.

About Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft:
Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft based in Germany is the world’s leading applied research organization. It provides contractbased R&D services for specific industry demand, application-oriented technology development from proof-of-principle up to marketreadiness across the value chain and offer technical consultancy and feasibility studies to nearly all the industry sectors. Prioritizing key

future-relevant technologies and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. A
trailblazer and trendsetter in innovative developments and research excellence, it is helping shape our society and our future. Founded in
1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Over 32,000 employees,
predominantly scientists and engineers, work with an annual research budget of €3.4 billion. Fraunhofer generates €3 billion of this from
contract research. Our global footprint is very strong, with offices and research centres in the USA, Europe and Asia. Some of our renowned
innovations are the MP3 software, white LED's and the smallest of cameras. Fraunhofer has been a long-time trusted innovation partner
in India, collaborating with some of the major players in the field of Material Science, Energy, Environment, Automotive, Electro-mobility,
Production Technology, Microelectronics and Smart Cities, working with Industry, Government and Public Sector.

About Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB:

Fraunhofer IGB develops and optimizes processes, technologies, and products for health, sustainable chemistry and the environment.
Fraunhofer IGB is one of 76 institutes and research units of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Fraunhofer IGB develops systemic solutions in
integrated environmental protection and for the energy transition of industry, cities and regional authorities, both in Germany and abroad.
Fraunhofer IGB’s activities in this field comprise the development of new concepts and processes as well as specific solutions and products.
The aim is to achieve the greatest possible efficiency in the use of resources by taking into account the ideas of a circular economy and
climate neutrality as well as an assessment of sustainability.

About AWaDH, IIT Ropar:
IIT Ropar Technology and Innovation Foundation (iHub – AWaDH) for Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub is
established by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar in the
framework of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM – ICPS) with time-bound predefined deliverables. The
hub supports R&D in the domain of Agriculture, Water, IoT, ICPS and provides incubation & acceleration resources and support to
technology-based start-ups towards sustainability.

About BITS Pilani:
The Birla Institute of Technology & Science, BITS Pilani, is an all-India Institute for higher education. The primary aim of BITS is to "train
young men and women able and eager to create and put into action such ideas, methods, techniques, and information". The Institute is
a dream come true of its founder, the late Mr G.D. Birla, an eminent industrialist, a participant in the Indian freedom struggle, and a
close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. What started in the early 1900s as a small school has blossomed into a set of colleges for higher
education, ranging from the humanities to engineering. In 1964, all of these colleges amalgamated to form a unique Indian university of
international standing, christened the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, known to many as BITS, Pilani.