Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), an institution under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) scripted a new chapter in the technological advancement and expertise in raising the bar of its excellence in the domain of footwear design and development at par with international standards by signing four separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious academia namely Tamil Nadu Physical and Sports University, Chennai, Vellore Institute of Technology( VIT), Chennai, Woxsen University, Hyderabad and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar at a simple ceremony organised at Udyog Bhawan.   

In his welcome address, FDDI Managing Director, Dr. Sumeet Jarangal said this pathbreaking initiative with a thrust on collaborative research will go a long way in immensely benefitting all the stakeholders including faculty, students, entrepreneurs and workers especially engaged in the footwear and leather industry by honing their skills through the joint courses and training programs of these partner universities and institutions. He also shared a comprehensive overview of the different CoE locations and their specialized areas of focus. He specifically elaborated on how the MoUs would align with the core vision of FDDI, to enhance research and development capabilities, facilitate the exchange of knowledge, and foster innovation in footwear, leather goods, and fashion products.

Notably, Dr. Jarangal also outlined the objectives of the collaboration, including the exchange of faculty and students, joint research initiatives, and product development projects across FDDI’s multiple campuses, including Rohtak, Noida, Jodhpur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Patna, and Kolkata.  Pointing out further, he said the FDDI is making all-out efforts to provide and develop the best infrastructure for the domestic footwear and allied industry to achieve quality production in conformity with the international. However, he said these MoUs would further catapult the growth and development of footwear and leather apparel/ accessories on the top of the chart across the country provided these partnerships are transformed into actionable projects in the right earnest. Eventually, he emphasised the need to convert MoUs from mere documents to tangible goods.      

Underscoring the need to impart state -of - the- art infrastructure facilities coupled with the latest knowledge and skills to promote the footwear and leather industry in a big way, FDDI MD hoped this out of the box initiative to forge mutual research amongst FDDI and four leading academic and research institutions is a way forward to achieve the desired goal.

While making a presentation on the event, Director CoE Dr. Madhusudan Pal emphasized the practical steps taken to ensure that the MoU delivers on its promises, including organizing visits to different FDDI campuses, establishing public-private partnerships (PPP), and creating internship programs in collaboration with universities like Woxsen University. Apart from these, he also highlighted the importance of IPR protection, prototype development, and commercialization of innovative products, reinforcing the commitment to not just academic collaboration but also driving industry-relevant innovations.

Prominent amongst others who attended this momentous occasion included, Secretary FDDI Col. Pankaj Kumar Sinha besides representatives from academia Dr. Sivakumar R, Dean, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Chennai, Dr. P. Rajnikumar, Head CEB-HPC, Tamil Nādu Physical Education and Sports University, Tamil Nādu, Dr. Adity Saxena, Dean, and Santhosh Kocherlakota, Assistant Dean, Woxsen University, Hyderabad, Prof. Bauri Raula, Dean, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Odisha.

Pertinently, the event brought together distinguished guests from various universities across the country, with a shared vision of strengthening collaboration in product development, innovation, and education.

Finally, the event concluded with the official signing and exchange of MoUs, symbolizing a shared commitment to enhancing research, innovation, and educational excellence. The agreements will foster the exchange of faculty, students, and knowledge, creating a dynamic platform for mutual growth. The partnerships promise to enrich the academic landscape and contribute to India's broader goals of fostering innovation-driven growth.

Inter institutional collaboration establishes MoUs to drive joint research, internships, IPR protection, and commercialization of footwear innovations. Four Memoranda of Understanding between FDDI and four academic institutions create collaborative frameworks for faculty and student exchange, joint research, product and prototype development, internships, PPPs, and commercialization, with emphasis on leveraging Centres of Excellence and campus infrastructure and ensuring Intellectual Property protection to convert MoU commitments into industry-relevant, marketable outputs.