Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and IIT-BHU Varanasi have inked an agreement to initiate a joint doctoral programme from July 2021. The two premier technical institutions have come together to build a "network of excellence" of all IITs, “rather than each one striving to become a “tower of excellence”, states a statement issued by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. The Indian Institute of Technology Council has accepted the proposal of the two institutions through which both the institutes are expecting a significant boost in high-quality research and foundation for further academic collaborations. As per the IIT Guwahati, under the NEP2020 (National Education Policy), such educational reforms and academic collaborations between premier educational institutes will promote multi-disciplinary academic programs and research for encouraging and promoting a knowledge-based economy of the country. IIT BHU is mulling starting a Joint MTech program on similar lines to provide multi-institutional and multidisciplinary MTech programs. IIT Guwahati has also agreed to be part of this initiative. IIT Guwahati reserach team developed free-space optical communication system NHAI signs MoU with India's 200 premier institutes to strengthen local competence IIT Kharagpur researchers develop cellulose nano-crystals from cucumber peels