On July 31, 2025, a landmark MoU was signed between IIT Ropar and Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB), establishing a robust partnership aimed at empowering Indian MSMEs—particularly in the Defence & Aerospace sectors.
Key initiatives under the collaboration include:
Sector-specific training through the Laghu Udyog Bharati Skill Development Center – Sohan Singh Smriti Kaushal Vikas Kendra
Innovation, prototyping, and technology development via IIT Ropar’s state-of-the-art labs
Enhanced industry-academia exchange and policy advocacy
Enabling MSMEs to enter the technology-driven supply chain
The MoU was formalized at IIT Ropar in the esteemed presence of delegates from both institutions.
Laghu Udyog Bharati was represented by Shri Om Prakash Gupta, All India General Secretary; Smt. Anju Bajaj, Secretary, All India; Smt. Jayanti Goela, National Coordinator (Net Zero and Industry-Academia); Shri Arvind Dhumal, All India Vice President; and Shri Pardeep Mongia, Punjab State President, along with other office bearers from the Punjab and Delhi teams of LUB.
LUB extends their heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar, and Dr. Atharva Poundarik, Director, DRIF (Defence Research & Innovation Foundation), along with other esteemed members of the DRIF team and IIT Ropar faculty for this collaboration.
As part of the program, LUB representatives also visited the Central Research Facility of IIT Ropar, an experience that was both insightful and inspiring.
This MoU is a step forward in building a future-ready MSME ecosystem through innovation, collaboration, and shared commitment to national development.
