Simon India, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Partner to Develop Catalysts and Speciality Chemicals related Process Technologies for Scalable Green Solutions – APN News | Authentic Press Network News
Dhanbad, April 8, 2026 – Simon India Limited (SIL) has announced a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at the development of catalysts and process technologies. This collaboration is focused on enabling the industrial-scale deployment of green and low-carbon solutions.
Objectives of the Partnership
The partnership seeks to merge the research capabilities of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad with the engineering and project execution expertise of Simon India. The primary goal is to translate academic research into scalable and commercially viable industrial applications.
Key Areas of Focus
The collaboration will emphasize the joint development of:
- Advanced catalysts
- Process technologies
- Green hydrogen production
- Green ammonia synthesis
- Circular economy solutions
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Sustainable aviation fuel
- Biomass-to-value-added chemicals
- Waste utilization
- Rare earth recovery
- Development of new fertilizer grades
- Chemical derivatives
Framework for Collaboration
The MoU establishes a framework for:
- Joint research and development programs
- Pilot and demonstration projects
- Collaborative grant initiatives
- Cross-country proposals
Additionally, the collaboration will support capacity building through:
- Faculty-industry exchanges
- Internships
- Industrial training
- Mentorship programs
Technology Transfer and Commercialization
The partnership aims to facilitate technology transfer and develop commercialization pathways aligned with industrial priorities and global competitiveness. Both institutions will work together to transition from laboratory validation to engineering design and pilot-scale deployment.
Statements from Key Figures
Mr. Athar Shahab, Chairman of Simon India Limited, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “India has a strong foundation in research, and there is a growing need to translate this into scalable industrial applications. This partnership brings together academic and engineering capabilities to support that transition across sustainable and emerging sectors.”
Mr. Aashutosh Aggarwal, CEO of Simon India Limited, added, “This partnership allows us to focus on critical areas such as catalyst development and process innovation, which are central to advancing sustainable industrial solutions. At Simon India, our strength lies in engineering and scaling these innovations for industrial deployment, enabling efficient and commercially viable outcomes across green and low-carbon sectors.”
Importance of Nurturing Innovation
Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director of IIT ISM Dhanbad, highlighted the importance of nurturing innovation at an early stage. He stated, “Undergraduate students are the most important group. They are at a stage where their thinking can still be shaped. Exposure to real-world problems through industry interaction is essential for building meaningful innovation capacity, and the next generation must be trained not just to study technologies, but to build them.”
Addressing Systemic Gaps in Innovation
Dr. Fawzia Tarannum, Lead for Climate Tech and Sustainability at Simon India Limited, pointed out the systemic gap in innovation translation. She stated, “Our innovation journey often stops at publications. Unless research moves beyond papers into products and processes, its true value remains unrealized. We need integrated pathways where academia and industry co-create solutions from the outset.”
Conclusion
This strategic partnership between Simon India and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad marks a significant step towards enhancing the development and scalability of sustainable process-driven solutions in India. By combining academic research with industrial expertise, the collaboration aims to foster innovation and create impactful technologies that contribute to a greener future.
Note: The information in this article is based on a press release dated April 8, 2026, and may be subject to change as the collaboration progresses.
