AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li, accompanied by Vice President for Administration and Development (VPAD) Prof. Siddharth K. Jabade, Institute Secretary Mr. Karma Rana, and Deputy Institute Secretary Dr. Namita Sravat, visited the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) on 10–11 August 2026 for discussions on expanding collaboration in education, research, innovation, talent development, and advanced technologies. The delegation was warmly received by Prof. Rajat Moona, Director of IITGN, and Prof. Amit Prashant, Dean of External Relations. Prof. Moona also serves as a member of the AIT Board Executive Committee.
AIT and IITGN have developed a strong institutional relationship since signing a Memorandum of Agreement in 2024, followed by the launch of a Double Degree Master’s Program (DDMP). A Unified Bachelor’s–Master’s pathway is also under development. The partnership has expanded beyond academic programmes to include joint research and a jointly developed skill development programme in Semiconductor and IC Design, currently under implementation.
During the visit, the delegation met with IITGN leadership, faculty, researchers, and teams engaged in education outreach, integrated circuit design and technology, materials engineering, electrical engineering, industry partnerships, and research commercialization. Meetings included representatives of IITGN-X, the Education Outreach Initiative; the Integrated Circuit Design and Technology (ICDT) Group; and the Medical Ultrasound Engineering (MUSE) Lab, led by Prof. Himanshu Shekhar and Prof. Karla Mercado-Shekar. The delegation also held discussions with Prof. Abhijit Mishra of Materials Engineering, Prof. Naran M. Pindoriya of Electrical Engineering, Prof. Kasiviswanathan Chelvakumar, Prof. Nithin V. George, Dean of General Administration, Prof. Nirma K. Jha, Advisor for Industry Partnerships, and Dr. Somnath Mitra, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Research Commercialization, among others. The delegation also visited IITGN’s laboratories and research facilities, including the Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF), Research Park, and Incubator.
Discussions explored opportunities to broaden the partnership into areas of strategic importance, including semiconductors, IC design, artificial intelligence, data science, environment and sustainability, professional education, research, and innovation. Particular interest was expressed in leveraging the strengths of both institutions for talent development and advanced technology capacity building, with potential benefits for Thailand, India, and the wider South Asian and Southeast Asian regions.
The semiconductor sector presents a particularly promising area for collaboration. IITGN has established SAMARTH (Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Research and Training Hub), a Gujarat Government-led initiative aimed at training more than 10,000 students and technicians and upskilling more than 1,000 professionals in support of India’s semiconductor mission. The initiative provides potential opportunities for AIT and IITGN to explore complementary approaches to advanced technology education, professional upskilling, research, and industry engagement.
The AIT delegation also visited GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in Gandhinagar, an 886-acre greenfield smart city and India’s first operational International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The delegation met with representatives of the GIFT International Fintech Institute (GIFT IFI), established by Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited (GIFTCL) in partnership with Ahmedabad University, IIT Gandhinagar, and the University of California San Diego. The visit provided insights into GIFT City’s emerging ecosystem in fintech, digital technologies, international finance, and innovation, and potential areas for future collaboration.
The visit generated positive momentum for further strengthening the AIT–IITGN relationship. Building on the existing DDMP, developing Bachelor’s–Master’s pathway, joint research activities, and semiconductor skills programme, the two institutions are exploring a broader strategic partnership encompassing education, research, professional and executive development, innovation, advanced technology, and industry engagement.
For AIT, the partnership provides an opportunity to connect its extensive Asian network with India’s rapidly developing advanced technology and innovation ecosystem, while providing IITGN with a platform to strengthen its engagement across Asia through AIT’s international and regional network. The two institutions share a commitment to developing partnerships that respond to emerging technological and workforce needs and contribute to talent development, innovation, and sustainable development in India, Thailand, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
