Pact to advance geospatial education and research

Esri India Technologies Private Limited, the leading provider of Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies and location intelligence solutions, has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Energy and Resources Institute School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS), a Deemed-to-be University, to advance geospatial education, capacity building and applied research in India.

Through this strategic collaboration, both organizations will combine their complementary strengths in undertaking initiatives that promote the use of GIS technology for governance and sustainable development. Leveraging TERI SAS’s expertise in environment, energy, and sustainability with Esri India’s cutting-edge geospatial technology leadership, this collaboration will span multiple programs to foster a robust geospatial ecosystem in India.

Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, said, “This collaboration with TERI SAS represents a significant step in strengthening India’s geospatial education ecosystem. By combining our advanced GIS technology with TERI SAS’s academic rigor and research excellence in sustainability, we are creating a powerful platform to train the next generation of geospatial professionals and decision-makers. Through joint capacity-building initiatives and curriculum alignment, we aim to drive the adoption of data-driven, location-based approaches in critical areas, including urban planning, environmental management, disaster resilience, and infrastructure development. This collaboration exemplifies how academic institutions and industry can work together to build India’s self-reliance in geospatial intelligence and innovation.”

Prof. Suman K Dhar, Vice Chancellor, TERI SAS, added, “This MoU is designed to foster collaboration on state-of-the-art geospatial tools and techniques to build a workforce of Geoinformatics professionals, enabling a transition toward a greener and sustainable future. TERI SAS, being at the forefront of education in the sustainability domain, hopes to play a transformative role in the critical area of ‘Geoinformatics AI for Sustainability’.”

The MoU will lead to initiatives such as faculty training programs under the GIS Academia Council of India (GACI) framework, curriculum enhancements for university-level GIS education, capacity-building workshops for government officials, and applied research projects. TERI SAS and Esri India will also jointly facilitate advanced learning through guest lectures by industry experts, student workshops, and innovation challenges to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world GIS applications.

Established in 1996, Esri India Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Esri India), the market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping solutions in India, helps customers unlock the maximum potential of their data to improve operational and business decisions.

TERI School of Advanced Studies was set up as a Trust by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) – a not-for-profit, independent research institute recognized globally for its contribution to scientific and policy research in the realms of energy, environment, and sustainable development in 1998. In 1999, the TERI School of Advanced Studies was granted the ‘Deemed to be University’ status by the University Grants Commission.