Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and Caterpillar Inc. have joined hands to create the Caterpillar Centre of Excellence for off-highway engineering.

At a brief function held at IIT-M, Caterpillar Vice-President for Asia Operations Rich Lavin presented IIT-M Director M.S. Ananth with a cheque for $250,000 to fund the centre.

"We are happy about the joint venture, and this partnership is one of the standing examples of the industry-institution collaboration," Prof. Ananth said.

Mr. Lavin said the centre would offer students a unique opportunity to apply theory in a real-world setting. Engineering students of IIT-M would take part in long-term research in collaboration with Caterpillar.

"It is truly an example of a win-win partnership. Students at the IIT will gain valuable hands-on laboratory experience in design and development of off-highway machines. For Caterpillar, the benefit comes not only from the research but also from having the opportunity to work closely with students that ultimately may come to work for the company," he said.

Caterpillar Managing Director Tarsem Jutla said the partnership would open up new vistas in the manufacture of off-highway trucks, backhoe loaders, engines, engine components and generator sets.

R. Krishnakumar, Professor, Department of Engineering Design, IIT- Madras, said the engineering design programme was the first of its kind in India.

The tie-up also paved the way for exchange programmes, including special lectures, he later told reporters.

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