The University of Saskatchewan (USask), Saskatoon, Canada, and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar, India, have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) to foster collaborative research and academic engagement.

The agreement was formally signed today, 12 September 2025 (IST), by Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director of CSIR-IMMT, and Dr. Baljit Singh, Vice-President Research, USask, representing their respective organizations. The signing took place in the presence of Mr. Scott Matthies, Managing Director of the Government of Saskatchewan’s India Trade Office.

Through this JDI, the two institutions will work together to advance research in critical minerals, a field of global importance for sustainable development and clean technologies. The collaboration will also explore other scientific and academic areas of mutual interest, paving the way for joint projects, knowledge exchange, and capacity building.

The initiative was coordinated by Dr. Kali Sanjay, Chief Scientist and Head of Business Development at CSIR-IMMT, and Mr. Derek Tiessen, International Partnerships Specialist at USask. Researchers and faculty members from both institutions participated in the program, reflecting a shared commitment to international scientific collaboration.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ramanuj Narayan emphasized the importance of international partnerships in advancing cutting-edge research for societal benefit. Dr. Baljit Singh highlighted the potential of the collaboration to generate impactful outcomes in critical minerals and related areas, aligning with global priorities for energy and resource sustainability.

This agreement marks a significant step in strengthening Indo-Canadian scientific cooperation and creating opportunities for impactful research, innovation, and academic exchange between the two institutions.