Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru (NIAS) on January 15, 2024, for a period of five years in the presence of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt of India.
The MoU was inked by Dr Sailesh Nayak, Director, NIAS and Ms Vatsala Joesph, Interim CEO & CFO, Shakti.
The signatures were made under the auspices of Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Also, present were Dr Sapna Poti, Director – Strategic Alliances from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Kavita Tiwari (o/O PSA), and from Shakti, Manu Maudgal and Antara Bose.
Under the agreement, Shakti and NIAS agree to cooperate in the fields of climate and clean energy, or any other inter-sectional area as may be mutually agreed, including research and studies, academic exchange, and interaction to build data and evidence, knowledge, and information, communication, and practice.
The bilateral MoU ties NIAS and Shakti to augment the knowledge support that India’s climate and clean energy transition entails. Under this MoU, areas of joint work of mutual interest which encompass scoping studies, suggesting technical inputs, business case/model, programme initiatives, pre-feasibility studies etc. shall be worked out. The partnership has the potential for scale and replication with States and institutions. Multiple research actors are expected to be enlisted to act on the thematic works developed under the MoU. Also planned are collaborations for regular exchanges, advisory activities through cooperation and a focus on the development of enhanced philanthropic interest.
Prof Ajay Kumar Sood said “Climate actions are pivotal today. Such interventions are welcome and would be ideal to be exerted in a hub-and-spoke model, where Tier 2 and 3 cities are closely mentored by NIAS and the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.”
“Given India’s ambitious development goals associated with Viksit Bharat 2047, the task before us between now and 2047, is to augment research for decision-making in India,” said Ms Vatsala Joesph, Interim CEO, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.
“Dialogue with philanthropic and civil society ecosystem needs to expand to keep pace with India’s ambitious net-zero emissions pledge while also balancing the nation’s rapidly growing development needs.” She added.
Dr Shailesh Nayak, Director, NIAS said “We need to augment support to decision-makers and stakeholders for climate and clean energy-aligned sectoral actions at scale and develop a portfolio of transformative development that India requires over the next 25 years.”