Pumps and Water Technology major EKKI teams up with KPR Institutions to launch “The EKKI-KPR International Water Technology Centre (EIWTC)”, the first of its kind in the Indian Pump & Water Industry.
EIWTC was inaugurated by German Consul General, Ms. Karin Stoll, recently in Coimbatore, India, in the presence of Dr. K. P. Ramasamy, Chairman, and Mr. T. N. Arun, Executive Director, KPR Groups, Mr. P. Arumugam, Chief Executive, and Mr. Kanishka Arumugam, Co-CEO, EKKI Pumps, Dr. A. M. Natarajan, Chief Executive, and Dr. M. Akila, Principal, KPRIET.
The EKKI-KPR International Water Technology Centre (EIWTC) is a global Centre of excellence for pumps & water related technologies. The Centre will lead on the exchange of best practice in teaching and research for the pump industry and water related technologies. EIWTC brings together pumps and water related Research, Teaching, Consultancy, and Entrepreneurship.
Based at the KPR Institutions, the new Centre will harness the combined expertise of 45+ researchers and academicians from KPR and 40+ engineers from EKKI. The new Centre will initially work on “SKE” – Skill Training, Knowledge transfer and Encourage Entrepreneurship in the water industry.
EKKI has set up such Centres in India to bridge the gap between academia and industry. EIWTC is housed at KPR institutions as part of the Pump and Water Technology Group’s ongoing partnership with academic institutions across India. EKKI heavily invests in skills. EKKI’s workers are all enrolled in academic and vocational training. The company’s customer-training programs, employee training and other aspects of the company’s wider skills projects will also be included in EIWTC.
Dr. M. Akila, Principal of KPRIET, welcomed the gathering followed by presidential address of Dr. K. P. Ramaswamy, Chairman of KPR Group.
According to Dr. K. P. Ramaswamy, Chairman of KPR Group: “We are very proud that EKKI has established the center in our Institution. KPR students thrive on innovation and creative exploration. I admire EKKI’s vision in providing this focus and governance for its learning and development. The Centre highlights the company’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of students and academicians. The Centre will provide excellent opportunities for students and academicians at KPR Institutions. Collaboration with academia and lifelong learning will be a crucial component to help achieve Industries growth plans”.
Co-CEO of EKKI Mr. Kanishka Arumugam said: “Today, about 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. By 2025, approximately 2.8 billion people will be living in water scarce areas”.
“At EKKI we are working to ensure a sustainable water future for all. The company is investing in its future by employing and developing the highly skilled people that will help ensure its continued success in the water industry.”
“At EKKI we have studied how academic institutions and industry can work together successfully on the lines of University-Industry Collaboration at Oxford, Fraunhofer in Germany and the Warwick Manufacturing Group in England.”
“For me, our workforce is our most crucial asset and I see EIWTC critical to our organization success”, “Through providing opportunities for continuous learning and research from recruitment to retirement, the Centre will ensure that we have the skills needed to compete globally.”
“EIWTC will work with other academic institutions and global water technology companies to build a new generation of water industry leaders that better society and put people and planet first”
“We will strengthen partnership between academia and industry to promote a more sustainable water future for all” said Kanishka Arumugam.
German Consul General, Ms. Karin Stoll said: “Happy to inaugurate KPRIET EIWTC today. Strengthening links between business and academia will improve training in the field of Engineering considerably. This will contribute not only to better employability but also to higher quality! Great Initiative by Ekki pumps, orientated at the German model: integrate theory and practice; highlight importance of water sector at the same time.”