The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, signed a tripartite agreement with the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, a premier institution of national importance. The agreement marks another significant milestone in strengthening India's indigenous telecom innovation ecosystem through collaborative research and technology development.

As part of the agreement, C-DOT has established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at FSID, IISc Bengaluru, with the objective of accelerating indigenous research, innovation, capacity building and commercialisation of advanced communication technologies. The CoE will serve as a collaborative platform for academia and industry, fostering high-impact research, technology development, and talent creation in strategic domains critical to India's digital future.

The newly established CoE will focus on research and innovation in wireless communications, Quantum technologies, cybersecurity, and AI-driven communication systems, while undertaking advanced research in emerging areas including 5G Advanced/6G technologies, very large-scale MIMO systems, integrated sensing and communication, AI-native communication networks and devices, and quantum and post-quantum communication technologies. By combining IISc's globally recognised academic excellence with C-DOT's extensive expertise in indigenous telecom R&D, the Centre aims to accelerate the development of future-ready communication technologies, generate intellectual property, support deep-tech start-ups, and facilitate continuous knowledge exchange through collaborative research, workshops, training programmes, and academic–industry engagements.

With this initiative, C-DOT has now established five Centres of Excellence, following similar collaborations with IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, and IIT Roorkee. The expanding CoE network reflects C-DOT's sustained commitment to building a vibrant national innovation ecosystem that nurtures cutting-edge research through collaboration, strengthens indigenous technological capabilities, and reinforces India's position as a global leader in next-generation telecommunications.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, and Mr. Omprakash Subbarao, CEO, FSID, along with faculty members from IISc and senior officials from C-DOT. The signing ceremony was followed by the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence dedicated to advancing communication technologies through collaborative, high-impact research and innovation.

On the occasion, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, also delivered a special lecture to IISC community on "Role of C-DOT in Building Secure Indigenous Communication Technologies for Viksit Bharat." The lecture highlighted India's rapid digital and telecom transformation, the strategic importance of developing trusted indigenous communication technologies, and C-DOT's pioneering contributions in next-generation telecom networks, cybersecurity, AI-enabled communication systems, and quantum-secure communications. The session also explored the transformative potential of 6G technologies and India's growing leadership in shaping the future of global telecommunications.

Describing the significance of the collaboration, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, highlighted: "The establishment of the C-DOT Centre of Excellence at IISc Bengaluru represents a strategic investment in India's future telecom innovation ecosystem. By bringing together IISc's world-class research capabilities with C-DOT's expertise in indigenous telecom technologies, we are creating a platform that will accelerate breakthrough research in 5G Advanced, 6G, AI, Quantum Communications and other emerging technologies. This collaboration will not only strengthen India's self-reliance in critical communication technologies but also nurture the next generation of innovators, researchers, intellectual property and deep-tech enterprises, contributing significantly to the vision of Viksit Bharat."

Speaking on the significance of the partnership, Prof. Neelesh B. Mehta, Chair, Department of Electrical Communication Engineering (ECE), IISc Bengaluru, emphasised that the partnership with C-DOT would foster long-term and impactful collaborations between IISc faculty and students working on cutting-edge research and C-DOT's domain experts and engineers, thereby accelerating innovation in advanced communication technologies.

Highlighting the importance of the collaboration, Mr. Omprakash Subbarao, CEO, FSID, remarked, "We are delighted to have reached this important milestone with C-DOT and look forward to initiating impactful projects and collaborations with the exceptional researchers and innovators at IISc. FSID has always been committed to bridging academia and industry, as we firmly believe that collaborative innovation is essential for strengthening India's scientific ecosystem and technological leadership. We are confident that this partnership will deliver meaningful outcomes for the nation."

Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT inaugurating the CoE at IISc Bengaluru

MoU signing ceremony in the presence of Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, and Mr. Omprakash Subbarao, CEO, FSID, along with faculty members from IISc and senior officials from C-DOT

Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT delivering a special lecture to IISC community on "Role of C-DOT in Building Secure Indigenous Communication Technologies for Viksit Bharat."

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NJ/AR