RUBIG Group has signed a research cooperation agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) in Chennai on 27 January 2026, formalising collaboration in advanced surface engineering and metallurgical research. The agreement establishes a framework for joint research, education and industrial application activities, supported by equipment and process expertise supplied from Austria.
The cooperation builds on the delivery and commissioning of a surface treatment and coating system at IIT Madras in late 2025. The system is intended to function as a research platform for the development and testing of advanced coatings and surface technologies for metallic materials.
The installed system will be used for research into surface engineering solutions aimed at improving wear protection, tribological performance, corrosion resistance and applications relevant to aerospace components. The platform allows academic researchers to conduct experimental work using industrial-scale equipment and process parameters typically deployed in commercial environments.
RUBIG Group said the collaboration enables IIT Madras to leverage coating technology and process know-how developed in Upper Austria for future research projects. The agreement is expected to support applied research programmes and training initiatives aligned with industrial requirements, including technology transfer and validation of new surface treatment processes.
The project also reflects the increasing level of technical cooperation between Indian academic institutions and European industrial technology providers. While the partnership with IIT Madras progressed to implementation, the company noted that a comparable initiative with a research institution in Upper Austria could not be concluded.
The memorandum of understanding outlines cooperation across research activities, academic exchange and potential industrial applications of heat treatment and surface technologies. The parties did not disclose financial terms of the agreement or the value of the installed equipment.
RUBIG Group is an Austria-based company specialising in heat treatment, coating technologies and advanced surface engineering solutions for industrial applications. The group operates manufacturing and technology centres in Europe and Asia and supplies equipment and services to sectors including automotive, aerospace and general engineering.
RUBIG Group installs plasma nitriding and DLC coating system at IIT Madras
