India and PoliTO: new opportunities for academic and scientific collaboration

On 22 September 2025, Politecnico di Torino hosted an Indian institutional delegation led by Ambassador Vani Rao, accompanied by Consul General Lavanya Kumar and Consul for Indian Community Affairs Atul Chauhan, representing the Embassy of India in Italy and the Consulate General of India in Milan.

The meeting was opened by Rector Stefano Corgnati, who recalled the national Innovation Hub initiative promoted by CRUI, linking it to the University’s strategy of strengthening international relations. Discussions quickly focused on opportunities for cooperation with Indian universities, with particular attention to student mobility and double degree programmes.

Vice Rector for Internationalization Alberto Sapora highlighted the University’s interest in increasing the presence of Indian students at Politecnico, while Pro Rector Elena Baralis confirmed the willingness to establish research collaborations in strategic fields such as aerospace, biomedical engineering and artificial intelligence, also through the attraction of PhD students and doctoral mobility.

Further collaboration opportunities could arise from the Research Internationalization Call promoted by Politecnico, which includes among its potential partners two of India’s most prestigious institutions, both ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay.

The Indian delegation also emphasized the importance of developing internship pathways with Piedmontese and Italian companies, in synergy with Indian enterprises, to provide students with training experiences bridging the two countries. This topic had also emerged earlier the same day during a meeting with the Turin Industrial Union.

The visit concluded with an informal and cordial exchange between the Ambassador and a group of Indian students enrolled at Politecnico: an opportunity to present the services offered by the Consulate and the social media channels available to the Indian student community in Italy.

“It was an honour to welcome the Ambassador of India to Politecnico di Torino to strengthen exchanges, research and mobility with the best Indian universities,” said Vice Rector Alberto Sapora. “We are ready to build new opportunities for cooperation and innovation together, on strategic themes for both our countries.”