Dehradun / Roorkee, October 6, 2026 – The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and India Optel Limited (IOL), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in defence research, technological innovation, capacity building and industry-academia engagement.
The MoU was signed in Dehradun on October 5, 2026. It establishes a framework for cooperation in innovation, indigenisation, training, internships, research and other areas of mutual interest. The partnership brings together IIT Roorkee’s multidisciplinary research capabilities, academic expertise and research infrastructure with IOL’s domain expertise in defence technologies.
Key focus areas include electro-optical sensor systems, weapon sights, communication equipment and defence opto-electronic systems for the Indian Armed Forces and paramilitary forces. The collaboration aims to translate cutting-edge academic research into practical technological solutions that support India’s strategic defence requirements and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence.
Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, stated that the partnership marks an important step towards bridging academic research with India’s strategic defence needs and will create significant opportunities for collaborative research, student engagement, technology development and knowledge exchange.
Smt. Sharmishtha Koul Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director of India Optel Limited, said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to indigenous research, innovation and technological self-reliance, while strengthening engagement with premier academic institutions to address critical defence requirements and develop future-ready solutions.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Vivek Kumar Malik, Dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy (SRIC) at IIT Roorkee, and Shri Nitesh Goel, Chief Technology Officer of India Optel Limited. Senior officials from both organisations, including directors from IOL and faculty from IIT Roorkee’s innovation and electronics departments, attended the ceremony.
India Optel Limited, headquartered in Dehradun, is one of the defence public sector undertakings formed after the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board. The partnership is expected to build a stronger defence research and innovation ecosystem linking premier academia with India’s defence manufacturing sector.