The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tie-up for research in renewable energy

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Thursday, Jul 12, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tie-up for research in renewable energy

Special Correspondent

SSN Institutions joins hands with a non-profit think tank

CHENNAI: SSN Institutions, founded by Shiv Nadar of HCL, on Wednesday entered into an agreement with the Centre for Study of Science and Technology and Policy, a non-profit think tank headed by V.S. Arunachalam, former head of the DRDO, to conduct research in renewable energy.

Mr. Nadar said the agreement marked a major milestone in the progress of the SSN group of institutions. It would go a long way in helping the institutions achieve the vision of becoming ‘centres of excellence’ in education and research. Students in India should have an opportunity for conducting high-quality research in the country itself.

He hoped that the institution could produce Nobel Laureates in 10 years. The SSN College of Engineering might become an autonomous institution next year.

Letter of appointment

Earlier, he handed over to Mr.Arunachalam a letter of appointment as the Chief Scientific Advisor of the SSN research centre, being established on the SSN campus on Old Mahabalipuram Road.

The Centre for Study of Science and Technology and Policy would pursue scholarly, quantitatively rigorous and independent research on technologies and policies relevant to the country’s strategic, economic and technological future, Mr. Arunachalam said.

The research collaboration would focus on building renewable energy systems instead of conventional fuels such as oil and gas and coal. The questions that will have to be addressed are: what are the fuel options; what technology must be used to harness them; how to assess these technologies and what policy changes are required.

Extension likely

While the agreement would be valid for three years, Mr. Arunachalam said it was likely be extended.

Kala Vijayakumar, president, SSN Group of Institutions; Raj Reddy, who is on SSN Research Centre’s Research and Advisory Council, spoke.

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