IIT Bhubaneswar, Indian Army join hands to boost AR and VR technology

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar and the Indian Army's Simulator Development Division (SDD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on advanced research, training, and innovation in emerging technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Robotics.

The MoU was inked online on Wednesday by Brigadier G S Bedi, Commandant of SDD, Secunderabad, and Prof Dinakar Pasla, Dean of Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy at IIT Bhubaneswar. The partnership aims to leverage academic expertise and technological innovation to enhance defence capabilities, simulation-based training, and innovation-driven applications.

Under the agreement, IIT Bhubaneswar will provide academic and research support through its Virtual and Augmented Reality Centre of Excellence (VARCOE), while SDD will offer practical exposure and opportunities for collaborative development in defence simulation and technology prototyping.

The collaboration includes short-term training and certification programmes, internships for IIT students, access to facilities, and joint initiatives such as hackathons and innovation challenges.

Prof Dinakar emphasized that the partnership reinforces IIT Bhubaneswar’s commitment to national defence and technological self-reliance. Brigadier Bedi highlighted that the MoU will foster stronger ties between academia and the Army, encouraging indigenous technology solutions aligned with operational needs.

The agreement is set to remain in force for five years, paving the way for long-term collaboration, knowledge exchange, and advancement in frontier areas of technology.