Apollo Tyres, KIIT announce India’s first strategic academic collaboration

In a pioneering move for the Indian automotive and education sectors, Apollo Tyres Ltd and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneshwar announced a first-of-its-kind strategic association to introduce a specialised elective/module on Tyre Technology for engineering students.

This landmark collaboration marks the first time in India that a tyre manufacturer and a technical institute have come together to integrate tyre science, design and manufacturing into an engineering curriculum. Under this partnership, Apollo Tyres Ltd will play a key role in shaping academic content for the course. The company will assist the institute in developing the syllabus, preparing study material, and ensuring the curriculum reflects the latest technological advancements and industry needs.

R Mahalakshmi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd said, “This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for the Indian automotive sector. By bringing tyre technology into mainstream engineering education for the first time, we aim to equip young engineers with future-ready skills and real-world exposure. Through internships and on-ground training at our facilities, students will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge tyre design, manufacturing and testing, strengthening the talent pipeline for India’s mobility future.”

On the Industry-Academia pact, Prof (Dr) Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU said, “In the fast-growing demand for a market ready workforce, it is imperative that Industry and Academia work closely together to develop quality tech talent. Being one of the leading technology universities, we have a strong intellectual capital and talent base to partner with industry in bridging the talent gap and nurturing future-ready digital professionals. The introduction of co-branded specialisation, ‘Tyre Technology’, will definitely give our students a new scope for innovation and edge over others.”

On the occasion, Prof (Dr) Achyuta Samanta, Founder KIIT, KISS and KIMS reiterated on the amazing learning opportunities in the most invaluable component -- tyres -- of automobiles which capacitates engineers to comprehend complex technology challenges and implement industry best practices.

This partnership between two academic and industry powerhouses is certain to provide access and exposure to niche technologies and transformative learning opportunities.