IFF and Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan join hands to synergise efforts in Innovation, Capacity Building, Research, Startup Mentoring and Entrepreneurship Development.
In a major development, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOADU), a premier multidisciplinary educational institution, and India Future Foundation (IFF), a leading Not-for-Profit Think Tank in the technology, have joined hands to foster innovation, research, and entrepreneurship across India and beyond. The two organisations have formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), thereby bringing together academic excellence and thought leadership under one common framework. The MoU was signed on 30 April 2026, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha by Dr Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice Chancellor, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University and Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder, IFF.
Both sides will collaborate to develop stronger capabilities in mitigation of cybercrimes, development of cyber skill and awareness about digital safety. The partnership is aimed at building a well-connected ecosystem where stakeholders from different sectors will converge – through workshops, awareness sessions and seminars – to address the growing challenges in Cyber Security, Cybercrime Investigation, Cyber Forensics and Information Security.
A significant component of this MoU is the setting up a joint Research and Innovation Hub in Bhubaneswar which will be a practical space for conducting trainings, skill development and knowledge exchange sessions.
At the same time, IFF will facilitate the development of entrepreneurship and mentorship programmes within SOADU’s academic ecosystem alongside AIC-SOA Foundation to support early-stage student ventures in gaining access to expert guidance and strategic networks. These programmes will be designed to build a generation of students who are ready to innovate and use that knowledge to make real-world impact in their own communities. IFF will also develop training toolkits and standardised resource materials, and conduct outreach campaigns targeting students, researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs across Odisha and beyond.
Reflecting on this MoU, Dr Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice Chancellor, SOADU says, “India is undergoing rapid change in the academic and technological landscape, with the need for innovation, research and entrepreneurship never being greater than it is now. While SOADU has been a pioneer in building a strong multidisciplinary academic ecosystem, the sheer scale of the opportunity requires us to think beyond the conventional boundaries of a university. Knowledge and innovation don’t live in silos and neither can we.
With its extensive outreach and thought leadership in public policy and technology, SOADU and IFF can provide a practical and purposeful platform for collaboration. As a collective, we hope to promote grassroots innovation, sharpen research capabilities and build a critical mass of entrepreneurially-minded graduates – for a stronger innovation ecosystem is not just an academic goal, but a collective national responsibility.”
Commenting on the importance of this MoU, Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder, IFF, says, “India’s academic and innovation ecosystem is growing at an impressive pace but we need to ensure that this growth is supported by the right frameworks for research, skill development and entrepreneurship. We’re committed to turning ideas into action at IFF. We provide practical, scalable and highly connected programmes with the communities we work in. Our partnership with SOADU is a big step in this direction. SOADU has strength in multidisciplinary academic research and institutional outreach.