Bangalore: America's oldest technological university, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (founded in 1824), has tied up with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK); the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bangalore; and Quality Engineering and Software Technologies (QUEST) to work on projects in the areas of nanotechnology, microelectronics and so on.

Rensselaer president Shirley Ann Jackson has signed memorandums of understanding with these organisations.

Dr. Jackson, who is heading an eight-member delegation to India, has met key leaders in Government, business and academic institutions to further research programmes between the two countries and also increase faculty and student exchange programme.

The institute's has a research outlay of $100 million from contracts and government and corporate funding.

With the IISc., the collaboration will be at the faculty level, the focus being energy and energy security.

India has the largest number of Rensselaer alumni at 400. Presently there are 700 Indian students on campus, the largest contingent from any country. The visit of the delegation, she said, is also to reinforce ties with its alumni.

Fruitful visit

Terming the 10-day visit to India "fruitful" after having met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; the Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, R.A. Mashelkar; and heads of academic institutions, Dr. Jackson said it will lead to a stronger relationship between the two countries.

For Rensselaer it means "expanding its reach and impact around the globe," she said.

The delegation includes research leaders in biotechnology and cell biology, nanotechnology and nanoelectronics, chemistry, aeronautical engineering, marketing, engineering education, experimental media and the performing arts.

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