The Department of Water Resources Development and Management (WRD&M), Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, hosted the Industry-Academia Meet 2025. The event served as a platform for dialogue between academia and industry, paving the way for innovation in water resource management, sustainability and engineering education.
The event began with a ceremonial inaugural session near the department lawn. Prof Thanga Raj Chelliah, Head of WRD&M, delivered the welcome address, followed by a programme overview by Prof Idhaya Chandhiran I, Programme Coordinator. The highlight was the keynote address by Prof KK Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, who inaugurated the event with reflections on sustainability and the circular economy.
Pant urged young researchers to consider how their work could support reverse migration, local livelihoods, energy efficiency and innovative technologies for the Himalayan region.
Following the group photo session and a Tech Expo visit, participants joined two concurrent technical sessions.
Round Table Discussion Calls for Curriculum Revamp
In the Round Table Discussion, chaired by Prof Thanga Raj Chelliah, with curriculum presentation by Prof KS Kasiviswanathan and moderated by Prof Idhaya Chandhiran I, academic and industry experts collectively emphasised the urgent need to revamp the WRD&M curriculum. Discussions centred on:
- Enhancing understanding of structural and hydraulic design through specialised coursework,• Incorporating Indian standard codes in teaching,• Embedding practical field components and post-visit report presentations in every course,• Including advanced technologies and practical insights into underground structures like hydropower tunnels and powerhouses.
Meanwhile, the Industry Talks session on ‘Instruments and Technologies for Sustainable Innovations in Water & Agriculture’ was opened by Prof Ellora Padhi, Session Manager, moderated by Dr Swetasree Nag. The session included talks from five organisations and emphasised time-bound, focused discussions.
Participating organisations included:
- TIDES, IIT Roorkee – The institute’s deep-tech and sustainability-focused startup incubator,• 3S Instrument – A pioneer in gas detection and environmental monitoring in India,• Bhoomicam – A firm blending AI and satellite tech to empower farmers,• Unite Trades and Technologies (UTNT) – A leader in scientific instrumentation and IoT systems,• Trimble – A global provider of GNSS, laser scanning and geospatial solutions.
Other participating entities included a mix of emerging startups, advanced research laboratories and technology solution providers, such as Crystal Vision, Ballice Smart Devices, Teqbot Innovations, Sustainico Technologies and Perovskite Innovation, alongside academic labs from IIT Roorkee like the Hydropower Simulation Lab, PEHEM Lab, Advanced Membrane Research Lab, Waste Water Treatment Lab, Reservoir Simulation Lab and the Greenhouse Gas Emission and Nutrients Lab, all contributing technologies across domains of water management, energy systems and environmental sustainability.
The mid-day Open Discussion Forum, chaired by Prof Deepak Khare (Dean, Finance & Planning), acknowledged the organising team's efforts in fostering collaborations between industry and academia. Speakers such as Er Hridesh Baindail (Former ED, IOCL), Saurabh Tiwari (Director, BIS Dehradun) and former WRD&M heads — Prof Nayan Sharma and Prof Ram Pal Singh — shared perspectives on translational research, patent development, student placements and startup incubation. The discussion further emphasised aligning academic programmes with real-world challenges, incorporating practical exposure to standardisation, promoting climate-resilient infrastructure retrofitting and advancing industry-aligned innovation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The event closed with remarks from Prof Khare and a vote of thanks by Prof Thanga Raj Chelliah, appreciating the contributions of faculty, researchers and industry partners.
Following a networking lunch in the department garden, the afternoon was dedicated to stall exhibitions and interactions, offering a platform for students to present their research prototypes and engage directly with industry delegates from across sectors including instrumentation, hydropower, renewable energy and sustainability solutions.
