Indian steelmaker Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Limited (JSHL) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur (MNIT).

JSHL is an integrated stainless steel manufacturer with facilities starting from melting, casting, and hot rolling to cold rolling and other value additions.

MNIT was established in 1963 as Malaviya Regional Engineering College, Jaipur, as a joint venture between Government of India and the Government of Rajasthan. The college has been given the status of National Institute of Technology and was proclaimed Institute of National Importance through Act of Parliament on 15 August 2007.

The three-year MoU was signed by senior vice president, manufacturing, JSHL, Vijay Bindlish and director, MNIT Jaipur, Professor Udaykumar R Yaragatti. The new partnership, claims JSHL, will encompass research, new product development, solid waste management, and skill development. JSHL will provide industry expertise, raw material, and infrastructure, while MNIT will bring in its technical and educational proficiency.

“As pioneers of the Indian stainless steel industry, we take pride in endorsing sustainable initiatives for our nation’s development. Under this MoU, we will initiate a series of innovative projects with MNIT by bridging our infrastructural and industrial excellence and MNIT’s technical and educational prowess. I am certain that this initiative will help develop an ecosystem of practical knowledge, innovation, and sustainability aided by the youth of the country.”

Vija Bindlish, senior vice president, manufacturing, JSHL.

Kicking-off this partnership with its first project, the two organizations aim to develop geo-polymer, a sustainable alternative to Portland cement used in the construction sector. An increasing use of Portland cement in concrete production emits large quantitites of greenhouse gases. To minimize the environmental impact caused by this, JSHL and MNIT have prepared a research proposal for developing geo-polymers using refined waste material from effluent treatment plant sludge (ETPS), argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag and fly ash from JSHL’s thermal power plants.Under this ‘waste to wealth’ initiative, the two organisations have submitted a research proposal to the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, in line with the government’s Promotion of Research & Development in Iron & Steel Sector scheme.

“This collaboration with JSHL is a milestone in MNIT’s history. With this innovative partnership our students will be exposed to hands-on industry experience, beyond academics, before they enter their fields of choice as professionals. This will help them train better and excel at industrial practises. I am certain that this will enable them aid the society at large.”

Professor Udaykumar R Yaragatti, director, MNIT Jaipur.

Among several projects planned under the MoU, JSHL will organise national seminars and workshops for awareness and skill development for students and fabricators. MNIT will introduce short-term diploma courses in its curriculum which will be supported by JSHL. In the past, the JSHL has inked MoUs with eminent institutions of the country including IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT BHU, OP Jindal University, Raigarh, UPES Dehradun and others.