The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D arm of the Department of Telecommunications, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on the institute’s campus. Conceived as a dedicated hub for high‑impact research and innovation, the CoE will focus on advanced communication technologies to support a self‑reliant and Viksit Bharat in the telecom sector.
MoU to strengthen academia–industry collaboration
Under the MoU, C-DOT will bring its expertise in indigenous telecom product development, while IIT Roorkee will contribute its academic strengths in communication engineering, semiconductor technologies and emerging wireless systems. The collaboration aims to create a seamless innovation pipeline where faculty, researchers, students and C-DOT engineers jointly work on mission‑critical projects rather than isolated research assignments.
Centre of Excellence: mandate and focus areas
The newly established CoE at IIT Roorkee is mandated to accelerate research, innovation and capacity building in cutting‑edge communication domains. Key focus areas include wireless communication, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, AI‑based telecom applications, as well as emerging fields such as 5G/6G networks, RF and sub‑THz integrated circuits, sensors, millimetre‑wave beamforming antennas with integrated ICs, V2X communication and data‑driven, energy‑efficient wireless systems.
Supporting start-ups, IP creation and skill development
Beyond pure research, the CoE is envisioned as a launchpad for start‑ups and deep‑tech ventures in telecom and allied areas. It will facilitate intellectual property creation, joint prototype development and continuous knowledge exchange through workshops, specialised training programmes and structured academic–industry engagements, helping to build a skilled talent pool for India’s telecom value chain.
Leadership remarks and strategic vision
At the signing ceremony, C-DOT CEO Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay stressed that the partnership brings together the strengths of a leading academic institution and a national R&D organisation to reduce dependence on foreign systems and build home‑grown solutions in 5G, 6G, AI and secure communication technologies. IIT Roorkee Director Prof. K.K. Pant described the initiative as a milestone for the institute, noting that the CoE will offer a transformative platform for faculty, researchers and students to co‑develop technologies of strategic national importance and advance India’s long‑term vision of technological leadership in telecom.
Memorial lecture underscores indigenous telecom push
As part of the sixth Prof. A.K. Kamal Memorial Lecture Series held on the same day, Dr. Upadhyay delivered a talk on “Building Indigenous Communication Technologies for Viksit Bharat”. His address covered India’s telecom landscape, Bharat 6G Vision, the telecom value chain and standards, while highlighting C-DOT’s indigenous solutions in 4G/5G, TRINETRA cybersecurity, secure quantum communication, disaster management platforms, AI‑enabled applications such as Sanchar Saathi and fraud detection systems, and mission‑critical communication solutions.
Conclusion
The C-DOT–IIT Roorkee Centre of Excellence is poised to become a key pillar of India’s quest for a secure, indigenous and future‑ready telecom ecosystem. By fusing academic depth with industrial R&D capabilities and nurturing start‑ups and IP, the CoE is expected to strengthen India’s global leadership in telecom innovation and significantly advance the national goal of technological self‑reliance.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
