A three day virtual Conference of BRICS Network Universities was inaugurated at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on 16 June 2021. The conference was hosted by IIT Bombay from 16 June to 18 June, 2021.
This conference was part of the engagements that India is hosting under the education stream during its Chairship of the 13th BRICS Summit, for the year 2021.
Theme:
The Conference of BRICS Network Universities was on the theme of Electric Mobility.
Topics:
During the 3-day conference, eighteen experts from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa talked about various aspects of electric mobility like traffic management, hydrogen technology, hybrid vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and linkage between e-mobility and livelihoods.
Participants:
Over 100 students, researchers and faculty from the BRICS Network Universities of the five member countries participated in the conference.
Shri Nitin Gadkari addressed the Conference:
⇒ Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways and the Minister of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises as Chief Guest addressed the conference.
» He said the transport sector in India is transforming rapidly, with the growing use of bio fuels in all kinds of vehicles ranging from trucks to e-rickshaws, bicycles, e-carts and e-food stalls.
» The country has also made a lot of progress with regard to low cost battery technology.
» Government is actively working to support E-mobility in the form of several incentives, GST exemption, and FAME-2 scheme.
» India is a power surplus nation and E-mobility would be the most effective solution to develop import substitute, cost-effective, indigenous, pollution-free mode of transport.
» Shri Gadkari called upon IITs in the country to take on research in innovative technology that can further revolutionize e-mobility.
» Union Minister also called for greater research cooperation among the BRICS countries in this sector.
About:
BRICS Network University is a union of higher education institutions of the five BRICS member countries. It is formed with the objective of enhancing educational cooperation in general, and especially in the realm of research and innovation. IIT Bombay is the lead institution of India for the BRICS Network University.