The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, to establish the ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’ at IISc. This partnership, formalized on July 3, 2024, marks a pivotal collyaboration aimed at integrating BIS with premier academic and research institutions in India.
The BIS Standardization Chair Professor role is designed to strengthen the partnership between BIS and IISc by fostering activities in standardization and conformity assessment based on principles of equality and reciprocity. This strategic move seeks to embed the teaching of Indian standards into academic curricula and involve academia in the standards formulation process.
Key objectives of the BIS Standardization Chair at IISc include:
Integrating Standardization Curricula: Incorporating standardization topics into academic programs to educate future professionals on the importance and application of standards.
Active Participation in Standardization Activities: Involving academia in national and international standardization efforts through BIS’s technical committees.
Infrastructure Support for R&D: Providing essential infrastructure for research and development projects related to standardization and conformity assessment.
Co-hosting Events: Organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, symposia, and lectures to promote knowledge sharing and professional development in standardization.
Knowledge Sharing: Publishing research and findings to enhance the body of knowledge in standardization and conformity assessment.
Exploring Centres of Excellence: Investigating the establishment of Centres of Excellence dedicated to standardization, testing, and conformity assessment.
Laboratory Facilities: Sharing advanced laboratory facilities to support research and testing initiatives.
This MoU with IISc is part of BIS’s broader initiative to partner with top institutions across India, including IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, NIT Rourkela, and NIT Trichy. These collaborations aim to enhance the standards formulation process by leveraging academic expertise and promoting research and innovation in standardization.
Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General of BIS, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “The MoU with IISc will significantly enhance standards formulation activities by facilitating R&D projects, encouraging the involvement of young minds in the standardization process, and organizing educational and professional events. We expect this collaboration to seamlessly integrate technology innovation and standards development, fostering the creation of technology-oriented products and services.”
Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director of IISc, expressed his commitment to the initiative and assured active collaboration with BIS to advance the field of standardization through education and research.
The BIS-IISc collaboration is expected to drive significant advancements in standardization and conformity assessment, ultimately contributing to the development of safer, more reliable products and services in India. By integrating standardization into academic and research frameworks, BIS and IISc aim to nurture a new generation of professionals well-versed in the critical importance of standards.
