Industry academia research partnership announced as Coromandel International signs MoU with IIT Madras

Agreement highlighted in the presence of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar with spokespersons Narayanan Vellayan of Coromandel International and T. Madhav Narayan of IITM Global outlining the collaboration

Coromandel International Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras for the establishment of a Corporate Research Centre at the IIT Madras Research Park. The development was announced during the inauguration of the IITM Global Research Foundation held in Mumbai on January 12, 2026.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, Government of India. During the event, the memorandum of understanding was formally handed over to Narayanan Vellayan, Whole time Director, Strategic Sourcing at Coromandel International Limited, by Dr. Jaishankar. The exchange took place in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

The event saw participation from global partners associated with IIT Madras across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore, reflecting the institute’s growing international research engagement through the IITM Global Research Foundation.
The partnership is aimed at enabling Coromandel International to access the research, innovation, and technology infrastructure available within the IIT Madras ecosystem in India and overseas. The collaboration will focus on areas linked to agriculture, sustainability, and emerging technologies that are relevant to the company’s long term priorities.

Commenting on the partnership, Narayanan Vellayan, Whole time Director, Strategic Sourcing at Coromandel International Limited, said that innovation and research remain central to the company’s approach toward India’s agricultural ecosystem. He stated, “Our collaboration with IIT Madras Global will enable us to work closely with researchers, scientists, and global partners to develop solutions in crop nutrition and advanced agri inputs. The Corporate Research Centre will provide a structured platform to translate scientific research into scalable technologies for farmers, industry, and the broader innovation ecosystem.”

Highlighting the significance of the agreement, T. Madhav Narayan, Chief Executive Officer of IITM Global, said that the memorandum of understanding with Coromandel marks a step toward deeper industry and academia engagement. He noted that the collaboration is expected to accelerate translational research and innovation with practical applications.
The proposed Corporate Research Centre will function as a hub for joint research programmes, technology incubation, talent development, and international collaboration. It aligns with Coromandel International’s focus on science led growth and the development of future ready agri solutions.

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