Amara Raja Energy & Mobility (ARE&M) has signed an agreement with IIT Tirupati to create the Dr. RN Galla Visiting Chair Professorship in Advanced Energy Storage Technologies. This chair, funded by ARE&M in honor of their Founding Chairman Dr. Ramachandra Naidu Galla, will last for 10 years starting in 2025.
The chair will bring top global faculty and scientists to IIT Tirupati to advance research in energy storage. These experts will spend up to eight weeks a year at the institute, giving lectures, conducting workshops, and collaborating on research projects. This will boost the academic experience for students and enhance the institute’s reputation.
This initiative supports ARE&M’s focus on sustainable energy solutions. IIT Tirupati, which prioritizes energy storage research, will benefit greatly from this support. ARE&M is also investing Rs 9,500 crores in a new Li-ion cell and battery pack factory in Telangana, set to start this year. Additionally, they plan to open ‘ePositive Energy Labs’ for further R&D in energy storage.
Prof. KN Satyanarayana, Director of IIT Tirupati, expressed gratitude for the chair professorship, calling it the highest academic honor. He emphasized the institute’s commitment to sustainable technologies and the importance of hosting leading scientists.
Sajjan Jindal, Chairman of JSW and Board of Governors at IIT Tirupati, highlighted the importance of industry-academia partnerships in inspiring future scientists and engineers. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder of Infosys, also encouraged industry support for academic R&D to drive innovation and excellence.
