As part of the COFIRD – Co-creation for Finnish-Indian R&D project’s India tour, representatives from COFIRD, Tampere University and KONE visited Ahmedabad University in Ahmedabad. The delegation including Biju Thankachan, Hanna Heinonen and the COFIRD project lead; engaged in detailed discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in both education and research.
The meeting produced immediate results, with both sides initiating joint educational activities right away. The conversations underscored the growing potential for deeper collaboration between academia and industry, reflecting the shared goals of the COFIRD initiative.
During the visit, the team explored Ahmedabad University’s expansive and beautifully green campus. Its modern infrastructure, open learning spaces and strong academic culture stood out as an excellent environment for students, faculty and research-driven partnerships.
Tampere University’s President, Keijo Hämäläinen, shared his warm greetings and strong support for future cooperation through a video message.
The visit also brought a personal touch: a reunion with Amit A. Nanavati. Together with him, Nitendra Rajput and Mikko Ruohonen, the COFIRD representative had worked on the very first India-focused project nearly fifteen years ago; RuralVoice: Mobile Voice Service Deployment for Developing Countries, with a Case Study on Rural India’s Bottom of the Pyramid. The encounter made the moment feel like a full-circle return, with COFIRD continuing the path started more than a decade ago.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Dean Sanjay Chaudhary for his commitment and continuous support for collaboration. With such a strong foundation in place, the partnership between Ahmedabad University and the COFIRD network is poised to grow significantly in the years ahead.