Strengthening the collaboration between academia and industry in the field of advanced energy storage, an expert delegation from Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies (ARACT) visited SRM University–AP to review ongoing research activities and discuss the roadmap for Phase II of the SRMAP – Amara Raja Centre for Energy Storage Devices.

The Centre of Excellence, established in 2020 in collaboration with Amara Raja Batteries Ltd. (ARBL), has been actively engaged in cutting-edge research on next-generation battery technologies. The visit provided a platform for evaluating the progress of Phase I and aligning future research objectives with industry requirements.

The ARACT delegation comprised leading experts including Mr Yi Seop Ahn, Dr Ravi Kali, Dr Satyanarayana, Dr K Sushoban, Dr Bhuvaneshwari, and Dr Priscilla Grace, who interacted with faculty members, researchers, and leadership of the university.

Welcoming the delegation, Prof. D Narayana Rao, Executive Director – Research, SRM Group of Institutions, highlighted the significance of the collaboration and expressed gratitude for the continued support from Amara Raja. He emphasised that the Centre is focused on developing advanced electrode materials, innovative battery chemistries, and sustainable recycling technologies. He also underlined the importance of strengthening the collaboration through the proposed Phase II program.

Addressing the gathering, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, emphasised the university’s vision of transitioning from research-driven outcomes to product-oriented innovation. He noted that while the Centre has made significant progress in research over the past few years, the next phase will focus on prototyping and commercialisation. He reiterated that industry collaborations play a crucial role in transforming academic research into technologies that benefit society and contribute to national development.

The research activities at the Centre are being carried out by an interdisciplinary team of faculty members, including Dr Pardha Saradhi Maram, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Dr Sujith Kalluri, Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Dr Vinod Kumar Etacheri, Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Dr Laxmi Narayana Patro, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Dr Surfarazhussain S Halkarni, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr Arghya Chakravarty, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dr Tousif Khan N, Associate Professor Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and  Dr Pankaj Pathak, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, along with contributions from Dr Surjit Sahoo and Dr Aniruddha Kundu, Assistant Professors, at the Department of Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, other researchers from departments such as chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science.

During the interaction session, faculty members presented their ongoing work and proposed research directions for Phase II on developing low-cost, high-performance battery materials, including improved cathodes for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, and solid electrolytes for safer all-solid-state batteries. Their work also focuses on better battery modeling, faster charging methods, recycling used battery materials, and advancing lithium-sulfur batteries for large-scale energy storage.

The visit also included a tour of the Amara Raja Centre and other research facilities, where the delegation appreciated the infrastructure, research capabilities, and collaborative environment at the university.

The interaction concluded with both teams reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the partnership and advancing the Phase II program, aimed at developing innovative, sustainable, and industry-ready energy storage solutions.

The visit marks a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between SRM AP and Amara Raja Batteries Ltd., reinforcing their shared vision of driving excellence in advanced battery research and technology development.