MoU aims to drive innovation and research in India’s logistics sector.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) have entered into a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance research and development in logistics and supply chain management.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Akshay Dvivedi, Dean Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy, on behalf of IIT Roorkee, and Ritu Narang, Senior General Manager (MIS), on behalf of CONCOR. Prof. Amit Upadhyay from the Department of Management Studies at IIT Roorkee will play a pivotal role in this collaboration and will be actively involved in all related research efforts.
This partnership between IIT Roorkee, a leading academic institution of national significance, and CONCOR, a prominent player in India’s multimodal logistics services, is poised to foster research, innovation, and capacity-building initiatives. The collaboration aims to develop cutting-edge optimization models to enhance the efficiency of containerized freight movement across India’s extensive railway network, with a particular focus on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
Under the MoU, IIT Roorkee will leverage its academic and research expertise to conduct an in-depth Operations Research study. The study will focus on optimising the loading of Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) on double-stack trains, with the goal of reducing container rail haulage costs and improving inter-terminal movements through rail transhipment hubs.
The MoU also outlines several initiatives aimed at strengthening industry-academia collaboration. CONCOR will provide internships for IIT Roorkee students, giving them hands-on experience with real-world logistics operations. Both parties will explore opportunities to establish jointly funded lab facilities and a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at IIT Roorkee, focusing on advanced research and development in logistics and supply chain management.
Sanjay Swarup, Chairman & Managing Director of CONCOR, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with IIT Roorkee, an institution known for its academic excellence and innovative research. This collaboration aligns with CONCOR’s vision to enhance logistics efficiency through advanced research and technology. We look forward to the impactful outcomes of this partnership, which will not only benefit our operations but also contribute to the advancement of India’s logistics sector.”
The MoU is effective for five years, with the possibility of renewal upon mutual agreement. Both IIT Roorkee and CONCOR are committed to building a long-term relationship that will drive innovation, research, and development in India’s logistics and supply chain management.
