kolkata the countrys first indian institute of engineering science and technology iiest at shibpur will soon join the league of the iits when on november 4 it embarks on a collaborative journey with some of the best public and private sector units in its earlier avatar as bengal engineering and science university besu the institution had signed a number of mous with companies but this will be the first time when six top notch private players and psus will offer expertise financial assistance and faculty enhancement to iiest the mous will be signed at rashtrapati bhavan next wednesday in the presence of president pranab mukherjee who is a visitor designate at the iits nits and the iiest the confederation of indian industries cii which has been instrumental in the collaboration believes the instituteindustry partnership will help the country ease the acute crunch of skilled employable students the campus is buzzing with excitement at the news we are eagerly waiting for the mous to be signed it will benefit the institute in many ways said an iiest official the six companies bharat heavy electricals ltd bhel garden reach shipbuilders and engineers ltd mn dastur and company skybits technologies pvt ltd sankalp semiconductor and bitchem will provide faculty members to iiest by instituting chair professors they will also help train students with internships and skills training upgrade laboratories and give feedback to iiest in revamping the curriculum to make it industry friendly bhel will conduct research collaboration in solar energy and electrical power systems mn dastur which is a consultancy firm has already provided funds for hiring faculty in the school of material science at iiest now they will give additional support to enhance material research activities emerging areas like polymer biomaterials and research on developing high performance steel is on the anvil said a source at cii garden reach shipbuilders and engineers ltd may start a new programme on naval architecture and shipbuilding in collaboration with iiest after a nod from the hrd ministry and the governing board of the institute skybits technologies a software company will provide skill development and make students industry ready in the computer science and it engineering departments sankalp semiconductor which was founded by an iitkharagpur alumnus is one of the top 100 global companies in it and software iiest will improve in analog and vlsi design the company will also assist the institute in innovating and designing electronic chips bitchem is associated with developing innovative road material using new technology and science they hold a number of patents in making green roads along with central road research institute and bitchem iiest plans to lay a stretch of road on campus by implementing new technologies the companies will provide material and technical knowhow added the cii source tata steel which has already set up three distinguished chair professors at the institute may also join the league of companies in signing a new mou with iiest later every year iits enter into collaborations with prominent