IIT Hyderabad, Indian Army’s Simulator Development Division sign MoU to set up CoE

The primary objective of this agreement is to create a framework for joint academic programmes, research and development projects, innovation initiatives, and capacity-building exercises.

By: Education Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 31, 2025 08:15 AM IST

2 min read

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prof. B.S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad. From SDD, Brig. A.K. Chaturvedi, Col. Hari Om Ahlawat, and Lt. Col. Anupam Porwal, while IIT Hyderabad was represented by Prof. G. Narahari Sastry, Dean (SRC), and Dr. Shiva Ji, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Professor BS Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad. From SDD, Brig. A.K. Chaturvedi, Col. Hari Om Ahlawat, and Lt. Col. Anupam Porwal, while IIT Hyderabad was represented by Prof. G. Narahari Sastry, Dean (SRC), and Dr. Shiva Ji, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator (Image: IIT Hyderabad)

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Army Training Command, Shimla to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE). The CoE is titled VIGRAHA (Virtual, Intelligent, Ground-breaking Research in AR/VR and High-tech Applications for Indian Army).

The Army Training Command is represented by the Simulator Development Division (SDD), Secunderabad. This collaboration seeks to spearhead cutting-edge research and development in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, unmanned systems, and other emerging technologies for the Indian Armed Forces.

The agreement was formalised in the presence of Prof B.S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad. SDD was represented by Brigadier A.K. Chaturvedi, SDD Secunderabad, along with Col Hari Om Ahlawat, Head of Department, and Lt Col Anupam Porwal, Project Officer. From IIT Hyderabad, the collaboration was led by Prof. G. Narahari Sastry, Dean (Sponsored Research & Consultancy), with Dr. Shiva Ji, Associate Professor, serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B.S. Murty said, “This partnership exemplifies the synergy between academia and the armed forces in fostering innovation and advancing the nation’s technological capabilities. The CoE VIGRAHA will be a significant step towards realizing India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense technologies.”

The primary objective of this agreement is to create a framework for joint academic programmes, research and development projects, innovation initiatives, and capacity-building exercises. The CoE will also facilitate:

– Training and certification programs in emerging technologies,
– Internship opportunities for IITH students at SDD,
– Reciprocal access to academic and technical facilities,
– Joint innovation and incubation programs in line with the Indian Army’s technological priorities, especially in AR/VR, robotics, AI, drones, and related domains.

This collaboration marks a strategic milestone in bolstering India’s defense research ecosystem and fostering self-reliance in advanced military technologies.

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