London/Bengaluru, April 11 — Imperial College London is gearing up to open a new global hub in Bengaluru, India, in May 2025. The initiative, titled Imperial Global India, is set to become a major bridge for collaborative work in science, technology, education, and innovation between the UK and India.
The hub will be led by Professor Sanjeev Gupta and Dr. Elena Dieckmann, both of whom will serve as Academic Co-Directors. Their focus is to build on existing partnerships while creating new ones across academia and industry.
A Launchpad for Deep Global Collaboration
Imperial President Professor Hugh Brady explained the broader vision of the hub:
“Imperial Global India will be a launchpad for powerful new collaborations… to apply cutting-edge science, technology and engineering solutions to shared global challenges… in areas such as telecommunications, critical minerals, semiconductors, AI, quantum, biotechnology and advanced materials.”
He emphasized that this step aims to deepen economic and scientific cooperation between the UK and India, enhance sustainability, and improve quality of life on a global scale.
India’s Rapid Innovation Landscape Offers Huge Potential
Dr. Elena Dieckmann highlighted the energy and opportunity within India’s innovation scene:
“The vision for Imperial Global India is incredibly exciting, particularly the potential to co-create and learn from the entrepreneurs in India’s fast-paced and rapidly expanding innovation community.”
She also noted that Imperial’s strength in turning early-stage science into practical applications fits naturally with the dynamic Indian startup ecosystem.
Professor Sanjeev Gupta added:
“India is buzzing with scientific creativity… We want to apply our combined strengths to tackle global challenges, like how we’ll live in a changing climate and meet our future energy needs.”
Expanding Global Footprint: Quantum Collaboration in the US
In a parallel move, Imperial is also expanding its global presence through the Quantum ICoNYCh project — a transatlantic initiative that unites researchers from Imperial, New York, and Chicago. Backed by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), this project aims to accelerate innovation in quantum technology.
Two major workshops have already taken place, including a recent one in March 2025, where Imperial’s QuEST Centre engaged directly with scientists at the Chicago Quantum Exchange.
Professor Peter Haynes, Director of the QuEST Centre, shared his enthusiasm:
“This workshop was one of the most rewarding I’ve participated in… The ICoNYCh project has exceeded expectations in terms of its productivity… We’re now actively pursuing the promising topics identified.”
Conclusion
From India to the US, Imperial College London is clearly signaling its global ambitions. Whether it’s laying the groundwork for education and innovation in Bengaluru or launching advanced quantum partnerships across the Atlantic, the institution is committed to playing a central role in shaping the future of global research and academic collaboration.
