Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen long-term academic, scientific, and research collaboration between industry and academia.
The five-year MoU aims to create a structured framework for cooperation that supports innovation, applied research, and skill development in areas relevant to the energy, refining, and technology sectors.
MoU Signing Ceremony
The agreement was signed by Dr. A. U. Arun, Registrar of CUSAT, and Mr. M. Sankar, Executive Director (Kochi Refinery), BPCL, in the presence of senior representatives from both institutions.
CUSAT officials present included:
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Dr. G. Santhosh Kumar
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Dr. D. Mavoothu
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Dr. A. Mathiazhagan, Head, Department of Ship Technology
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Dr. Sam Thomas, Director, IQAC
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Dr. K. Sivaprasad, Former Vice Chancellor, KTU
BPCL Kochi Refinery was represented by:
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Mr. Sibi Ignatius, Chief General Manager (Inspection & Advisory Service)
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Mr. Roopesh M., General Manager (Inspection)
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Mr. Sanal S., Senior Manager (Inspection)
Key Areas of Collaboration
Under the MoU, BPCL and CUSAT will collaborate across multiple domains, including:
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Joint research initiatives in areas of mutual interest
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Consultancy services by CUSAT faculty and DESCON (Department of Ship Technology Consultancy) to BPCL
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Student and faculty engagement programs, including internships and academic exposure
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Technical workshops, seminars, and conferences
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Knowledge and resource sharing to support applied research and innovation
Strengthening Industry–Academia Linkages
The partnership underscores BPCL’s focus on building strong industry–academia ecosystems to drive research excellence, innovation, and capacity building in India’s energy and refining landscape. For CUSAT, the collaboration provides opportunities to align academic research with real-world industrial challenges.
The MoU is expected to contribute to skill development, technology advancement, and sustainable growth through collaborative knowledge creation.