NEW DELHI: Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) had the privilege of hosting a high-level delegation from the European Union (EU), led by Ms. Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission. Ms. Mînzatu, who oversees a broad portfolio including education, skills, Erasmus+, labour, and digitalisation, visited IIIT-Delhi to witness the progress of the IRAS-HUB initiative, a project funded under the Erasmus+ program.
The visit commenced with a luncheon, providing an informal platform for dialogue between the EU delegation and IIIT-Delhi’s leadership and faculty. This was followed by a roundtable discussion on "Women in STEM", where a group of female undergraduate and graduate students shared their experiences, aspirations, and challenges in STEM fields. The session underscored the importance of global collaboration in promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in science and technology, aligning with the EU’s commitment to advancing gender equality.
The delegation, which included Ms. Annukka Ojala and Mr. Paul Moley, Members of Cabinet; Mr. Kinchit Bihani, Policy Officer; and Mr. Pierrick Fillon-Ashida, First Counsellor, then visited the IRAS-HUB facility. At the IRAS-HUB facility, Dr. Jainendra Shukla, Associate Professor at IIIT-Delhi and PI of the project IRAS-HUB, presented the progress of the IRAS-HUB initiative. Ms. Roxana Mînzatu also interacted with IIIT-Delhi students, who showcased their work in the broader theme of cyber-physical systems. She took a genuine interest in engaging with each student, praising their efforts and celebrating their innovative contributions.
Project IRAS-HUB, led by IIIT-Delhi in collaboration with a consortium of nine partners from India and the EU—including IIIT-Hyderabad, IIIT-Allahabad, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Addverb Technologies (Industry Partner), and leading European institutions such as the University of Genoa (Italy), Warsaw University of Technology (Poland), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain), Technical University of Crete (Greece), and Creative Thinking Development (Greece)—aims to address the shortage of skilled talent in robotics technology in India. By bridging Indian higher education institutions with global robotics education and industry efforts, the project focuses on developing highly knowledgeable and skilled human resources to drive innovation in robotics and autonomous systems.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Roxana Mînzatu expressed her appreciation for the institute's efforts in promoting gender diversity and advancing research collaborations. She remarked, "IIIT-Delhi is doing remarkable work in fostering an inclusive academic environment and driving impactful research. The collaborations between Indian and European institutions hold great potential for shaping the future of technology and innovation."
Adding to this, Prof. Ranjan Bose, Director, IIIT-Delhi, emphasized the importance of international collaborations in advancing research and education. He stated, "Global partnerships such as these enable knowledge-sharing, innovation, and capacity building, ensuring that academic institutions stay at the forefront of cutting-edge research and technological advancements."
IIIT-Delhi extends its gratitude to the EU delegation for their visit and looks forward to future engagements that will further strengthen international academic and research partnerships. Special thanks to all faculty, staff, and students who contributed to making this visit a success.
