Chandigarh: In a major boost to India’s offshore and energy infrastructure capabilities, the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (IIT Ropar) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with iDG10 Solutions Private Limited to establish a long-term collaboration focused on subsea pipeline design technology. The partnership will emphasize validation, testing, training, and joint consultancy, combining IIT Ropar’s academic excellence with iDG10’s proprietary software, the Subsea Pipeline Design Tool (SPDT).
Collaboration to Strengthen India’s Offshore Engineering Ecosystem
The MoU was signed by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar, and Silvi Francis Farnand, A&P Director & Co-founder, iDG10 Solutions Pvt. Ltd., in the presence of Dr. Sarang Gumfekar, Associate Dean, Continuing Education and Outreach, and Prof. Dhiraj K. Mahajan, who will coordinate activities from the IIT Ropar side.
The 60-month partnership aims to build India-based capabilities in subsea pipeline design by offering world-class training, hands-on tool validation, and industry-oriented consultancy — significantly reducing dependence on foreign providers and nurturing local talent.
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Home-Grown Expertise for a Global Industry
“This MoU marks an important step toward building home-grown capability in a highly specialized and strategic area of offshore engineering,” said Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar. “Our students and researchers will gain practical, tool-based experience that directly addresses industry needs and national infrastructure priorities.”
Echoing the sentiment, Silvi Francis Farnand, A&P Director & Co-founder of iDG10 Solutions, stated, “We are excited to partner with IIT Ropar to bring SPDT-driven education and consultancy to India’s engineers. This collaboration will help bridge the gap and enable faster, safer, and more cost-effective subsea pipeline projects.”
Key Highlights of the Collaboration
1. Software Licensing for Education and Validation
iDG10 will provide short-term and student licenses of its SPDT and related proprietary tools to IIT Ropar for validation, testing, and teaching purposes.
2. Industry-Ready Training Programme
A flagship Subsea Pipeline Design course will be conducted jointly—comprising 5 days of in-person classroom teaching at IIT Ropar followed by a 21-day live project where participants design pipelines using SPDT.
3. Capstone and Research Opportunities
iDG10 will offer Capstone projects for BTech and MTech students. Outstanding participants will receive extended SPDT access and technical mentorship, gaining real-world exposure.
4. Joint Consultancy Services
Both institutions will provide collaborative consultancy to the Oil & Gas, Water, Hydrogen, and Infrastructure sectors, merging IIT Ropar’s academic research with iDG10’s industrial software expertise.
Sectors Covered Under the Partnership
- Offshore Oil & Gas
- Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
- Hydrogen Transportation
- District Heating & Cooling Networks
- Carbon Capture, Transport, Storage & Utilization (CCTSU)
- Mining and Slurry Transport
- Thermal Power Plant Cooling Systems
Why This Partnership is a Game-Changer
Traditionally, specialized subsea pipeline training and validation have been available primarily through international institutions and providers. The IIT Ropar–iDG10 collaboration aims to localize advanced skills, strengthen India’s offshore engineering base, and support national technology self-reliance goals.
Key benefits include:
- Building an Indian talent pool skilled in subsea pipeline design and analysis
- Providing hands-on access to globally benchmarked tools like SPDT
- Enabling affordable, India-based consultancy and training for industry
Supporting India’s energy transition and critical infrastructure development in domains such as hydrogen transport and carbon capture
About IIT Ropar
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar), established in 2008 in Rupnagar, Punjab, is a premier institution for higher education and research in engineering, science, and technology. The institute actively promotes industry-facing research, innovation, and technology translation through its R&D centers, Technology Business Incubator (TBI), and national collaborations. IIT Ropar is committed to building applied capabilities that support India’s infrastructure, energy, and innovation goals.
More details: www.iitrpr.ac.in
