UCL Vice Provost Geraint Rees Highlights Expanding India–UK Research Partnerships During Delhi Visit

By A Staff Reporter

Delhi: Geraint Rees, Vice Provost for Research, Innovation and Global Engagement at University College London (UCL), on Saturday underscored the growing depth and ambition of India–UK research partnerships, describing them as engines of shared innovation rather than traditional academic collaborations.

Rees, who has been visiting IIT Delhi, AIIMS and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, said these institutions form UCL’s “major partners in India,” and that the nature of cooperation has evolved significantly. “What really excites me is that these partnerships are not just about research papers,” he said. “They are about building capabilities, from quantum computing to AI-driven medicine and assistive technologies.”

Highlighting the shift toward joint innovation ecosystems, Rees noted that UCL views its future with India as one of “co-creation, not just collaboration.” According to him, this approach allows both sides to develop technologies and solutions that would be challenging to create independently.

He also pointed to the increasing number of Indian students studying at UCL as an encouraging trend. “In London, we are seeing a record number of Indian students coming to UCL, which is great,” he said. “But more importantly, they are coming back to Delhi and going on to launch ventures to solve real problems like healthcare and climate technologies.”