The renowned Imperial College London has officially partnered with Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) in a move set to transform UK-India collaboration in science and innovation. This exciting alliance will see the co-development of advanced research facilities, a joint fellowship program to foster international talent exchange, and a focus on engaging the public with scientific discoveries, as announced by Imperial President Hugh Brady.
Mr. Brady detailed that this partnership extends beyond academic research to actively involve public engagement, alongside strengthening educational and research frameworks. The announcement coincided with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s inaugural official visit to India, where President Brady joined a high-level UK delegation.
He emphasized that by combining their strengths, Imperial College London and Science Gallery Bengaluru will cultivate the next generation of innovators and leaders. The collaboration will establish new state-of-the-art facilities, launch a dedicated joint fellowship program, and roll out a significant public engagement initiative. This strategic move is also expected to further accelerate research and innovation links with India’s academic and industrial sectors, building on the momentum from Imperial’s new Indian hub established earlier this year.
President Brady highlighted the commitment to expand the international reach of SGB’s Public Lab Complex. This includes developing a new range of initiatives covering innovation challenges, science and technology fellowships, and dynamic public engagement activities.
He stated, “This exciting partnership serves as a launchpad for UK-India innovation and scientific collaboration. Imperial’s deep expertise in innovation and incubation will help create a unique laboratory and collaborative space at Science Gallery Bengaluru, where groundbreaking solutions to global challenges will be conceived, developed, and implemented.”
A statement from Imperial College London further underlined that their participation in the Prime Minister’s visit signifies the crucial role the institution plays in fortifying UK-India partnerships. This follows the successful launch of their ‘Imperial Global India’ hub earlier in the year.
This cross-continental collaboration is poised to deepen research and innovation ties between the two nations, forging connections that will empower future scientists, thinkers, leaders, and change-makers.
Imperial College London previously established its Indian hub in Bengaluru, marking its fourth global network hub, following similar initiatives in Singapore, San Francisco, and Accra. The ‘Imperial Global India’ hub acts as a liaison office, dedicated to strengthening and co-creating new research partnerships between Imperial and leading Indian institutions.
Jahnavi Phalkey, Founding Director at Science Gallery Bengaluru, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to partner with Imperial College London to co-develop our public lab complex. This represents a significant step towards creating shared environments where inquiry, creativity, and continuous learning can flourish across international boundaries. We eagerly anticipate the innovations we will build together.”
Science Gallery Bengaluru operates as a non-profit public institution, dedicated to research-driven engagement for young adults. It bridges the human, natural, and social sciences with engineering, art, and design. Ms. Phalkey concluded, “Together, we aim to foster innovation that is both deeply rooted locally and globally relevant, through community-engaged science that encourages researchers to incorporate diverse perspectives and influences into their ideas.”