- Partnership focuses on joint research, mobility and dual-degree programmes in AI-led healthcare
The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Coventry University Group (CUG), UK, to strengthen collaboration in research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. The partnership aims to formalise a strategic engagement between the two institutions, focusing on research collaboration, academic mobility and joint degree programmes.
The MoU was exchanged during a visit by CUG’s senior research leadership, led by Richard Dashwood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), who also discussed plans for a joint research colloquium involving experts from both institutions. In the presence of IIT Guwahati Director Devendra Jalihal, the agreement was signed by Sumana Dutta, Dean, Alumni and External Relations, IIT Guwahati, and Dashwood. The collaboration will focus on the application of AI and data science in healthcare.
Jalihal said the institute is strengthening its focus on translational research, with partnerships including Aiims and Niper in health sciences and technology. He added that the upcoming 400-bed research hospital at IIT Guwahati will support collaboration between medical professionals and researchers in areas such as medical devices and drug discovery.
The partnership will enable faculty and student exchange programmes, including short-term academic mobility and visiting faculty engagements. It will also introduce joint doctoral programmes through a dual-award PhD model under shared supervision.
Aligned with India’s National AI Mission and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, the collaboration will explore the integration of AI in healthcare under the ‘AI for One Health’ framework, building on a pre-summit event jointly organised by the two institutions in January 2026.
Dashwood said the collaboration is aimed at driving real-world impact through research, adding that partnerships with institutions in India can contribute to advancements in AI and healthcare.
The initiative is expected to strengthen global academic collaboration while advancing innovation in healthcare technologies through AI-driven solutions.
