Expression of Interest (EOI)

FOR CO-LOCATION AT THE COEP RESEARCH PARK (CORP), CHIKHALI CAMPUS

Inviting EOIs from MSMEs, Large Companies, Research Organizations & Research Laboratories

1. About COEP Technological University

COEP Technological University (formerly College of Engineering, Pune) is one of India’s oldest and most prestigious technical institutions, established in 1854. Accorded the status of a Unitary Technological University by the Government of Maharashtra, COEP has a proud legacy of producing engineers, researchers, and innovators who have contributed significantly to national and global industry.

The University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across a wide spectrum of engineering and technology disciplines. With a strong emphasis on research, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement, COEP is strategically positioned to be a driving force in India’s transition to advanced manufacturing, electric mobility, and intelligent systems.

COEP’s Chikhali Campus is a newly developed facility designed specifically to house the University’s next generation of research and innovation activities, with infrastructure to support collaborative work at the intersection of academia and industry.

2. COEP Research & Innovation Park — Overview

The COEP Research & Innovation Park at Chikhali represents a landmark investment of ₹150 Crore by the University, designed to serve as a vibrant ecosystem that seamlessly connects academia, industry, and government. The Research Park is not merely a physical space — it is a platform for co-innovation, applied research, and technology translation.

2.1 Core Objectives

• Catalyse applied and industry-relevant research in priority technology domains.
• Bridge the academia–industry gap through collaborative projects, co-development, and shared intellectual property.
• Enable startups and innovation-led entrepreneurship emerging from University research.
• Support skill development aligned with the proposed Centre of Excellences (CoE) such as Automotive, Manufacturing, Smart Infrastructure, etc. 
• Promote commercialization of university-generated intellectual property.

2.2 What the Research Park Is — and Is Not

The Research Park is a platform for co-innovation and technology translation, and a shared R&D and incubation ecosystem where entry is based on research relevance and institutional fit. It is importantly not a commercial leasing hub or a business park, and not a siloed setup — it actively tries to avoid duplication of facilities elsewhere and promotes multi-party collaboration.

The Research Park’s current focus sectors are: Automotive, Manufacturing, Smart Infrastructure, Defence, Finance & Data Science. The Research Park has planned to commence Phase 1 / Stage 1 with Automotive as the priority sector. However, the EOI is not limited to the Automotive sector alone. Proposals in any of the above-mentioned focus areas are also welcome. The final decision on acceptance of any EOI will remain with the University.

2.3 First Domain Focus: Automotive Centre of Excellence (CoE)

The inaugural domain focus of the Research Park is the Automotive Centre of Excellence. This CoE is being established in recognition of Maharashtra’s — and Pune’s — central role in India’s automotive and mobility ecosystem. The Automotive CoE will serve as a hub for research, prototyping, testing, and validation across critical technology areas including electric vehicles (EV), autonomous systems, powertrain engineering, advanced materials, and future mobility platforms.

2.4 Academic Engagement Modes

Co-located partners will have structured opportunities to engage with the University’s academic community through the following mechanisms:

• Postgraduate (PG) and Research Scholar (Ph.D) Internships
• Undergraduate and postgraduate student projects
• Faculty consultancy engagements
• Joint academic output — publications, patents, and jointly-held IP
• CSR-funded research and development support
• Summer internships for students
• Guest lectures and co-teaching arrangements
• Industry visits and demonstration sessions
• Chair Professor and Professor of Practice appointments
• Sponsorship of conferences and technical events
• Incubation support for CoE-originated innovations

3. Invitation

The Office of the Registrar, COEP Technological University, hereby invites EOIs from eligible organisations — including MSMEs, large enterprises, multinational companies, research organisations, and research laboratories — for the establishment of their Co-Location Facility at the COEP Research & Innovation Park, Chikhali Campus, Pune.

Please note: This Expression of Interest (EOI) constitutes a formal declaration of willingness to work with the COEP Research Park. It is not a binding commitment or an offer of co-location. The submission of an EOI signifies the applicant’s intent and interest in exploring a collaborative research engagement with COEP Technological University.

Co-location at the Research Park provides selected organisations with physical presence within the campus ecosystem, access to COEP’s research infrastructure, and structured collaboration with faculty and students — all within a purpose-built environment oriented toward high-impact research and innovation.

While EOIs from all qualifying sectors are welcome, the University particularly encourages applications from organisations operating in the automotive and allied sectors, given the Research Park’s inaugural focus on the Automotive Centre of Excellence.

4. Eligibility Criteria

The following categories of organisations are eligible to submit EOIs:

EOIs from organisations in the automotive, EV, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, and allied sectors are particularly encouraged in stage1.

5. Guidelines for EOI Submission

5.1 General Guidelines

• EOI must be submitted using the prescribed Template given in Annexure A
• All sections of the template must be completed accurately and in full. Incomplete EOIs are liable to be rejected.
• The EOI must be submitted in English.
• Supporting documents as specified in the template must be enclosed.
• The organisation submitting the EOI must be the entity that will be co-located. EOIs on behalf of third parties shall not be considered.
• EOIs must be duly signed and stamped by an authorised signatory of the organisation.

5.2 Content Requirements

The organization submitting the EOI must address all five sections of the Template:

1. Company Profile — Organisation background, size, financials, and R&D track record.
2. Collaboration & Research Alignment — Proposed research areas, nature of engagement, TRL focus, and expected faculty/department involvement.
3. Space & Infrastructure Requirements — Required area (sq. ft.), type of lab/office space, and any specialised utility needs.
4. Strategic Impact & Commitments — Mode of engagement (Consortia, Sponsored Lab, Endowment, etc.), proposed duration, and equipment to be installed.
5. Supporting Documents — Company brochure, audited financials, and optional preliminary research proposal.

5.3 Preferred Focus Areas for the Automotive Sector

Given the Research Park’s inaugural focus on the Automotive Centre of Excellence, EOIs that address one or more of the following (non-exhaustive) themes will be accorded priority consideration:

• Electric Vehicle (EV) powertrain systems, battery management, and charging infrastructure
• Autonomous and connected vehicle technologies
• Advanced lightweight materials and composites for automotive applications
• Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, and robotics in automotive production
• Vehicle testing, validation, and homologation
• Embedded systems, ADAS, and vehicle software platforms
• Sustainability, emissions reduction, and alternative fuels
• Supply chain innovation and logistics for the automotive sector

5.4 Evaluation Criteria

EOIs will be evaluated by a committee constituted by the University on the basis of the following parameters:

• Research relevance and alignment with the Research Park’s focus domains
• Strength and credibility of the organisation’s R&D track record
• Quality and specificity of the proposed collaboration with COEP faculty and students
• Strategic impact — employment generation, IP creation, and skilling outcomes
• Commitment to shared infrastructure and open research culture
• Proposed investment and financial commitment

6. Detailed Information

6.1 Address & Location COEP Research and Innovation Park (CORP)

Sector No. 14 S no 539 Chikhali Tal. Haveli, Pune 411062

6.2 Site Photos:

Entrance

Elevation

Inside view from the Top

Side View

6.3 Total Space:

• Built-up area: 14,000 sq.mt ≈ 150,700 sq.ft
  • Basement – 6300 Sq.mt (67813 Sq.ft) – Heavy Engineering equipment / machinery
  • Ground Floor – 4300 sq.mt (46285 Sq.ft) – for CoE Labs (Automotive, Manufacturing, Infra)
  • First Floor – 4300 Sq. mt – For co-location

7.  Submission of EOIs

7.1 EOI Template

All EOIs must be submitted using the prescribed ‘Industry Collaboration & Research Partnership EOI’ template attached to this document (Annexure A). No other format will be accepted.

7.2 Mode of Submission

• EOIs must be submitted in digital form (PDF/Word).
• Digital submission: Scan and email the signed and stamped EOI to the address specified in section 7.3

7.3 Address for Submission

8. Key Dates

9. Terms & Conditions

• The University reserves the right to accept or reject any or all EOIs without assigning reasons.
• Submission of a EOI does not constitute any contractual commitment by the University.
• The final collaboration arrangement — including co-location, research engagement, and any formal partnership — will be determined based on the area of research proposed, the competency and credentials of the applicant organization, and the mutual acceptance of the terms and conditions agreed to by all parties involved. Submission of an EOI does not guarantee selection or any specific mode of engagement.
• The University may seek additional information, clarifications, or presentations from any applicant as part of the evaluation process.
• All information shared in the EOI will be treated as confidential and used solely for the purpose of evaluation.
• Co-location will be subject to a formal Co-location Agreement to be executed between the University and the selected organization, governing terms of occupancy, research obligations, IP rights, and commercial arrangements.
• The University reserves the right to modify the scope, terms, or timeline of this EOI through formal addenda issued on the Research Park portal.

10. Contact for Queries

Pre-submission queries may be directed to the email address provided in Section 7.3 above. Queries received after the specified deadline will not be entertained. Responses to queries of general relevance will be published as FAQs on the Research Park portal.

Issued by Authority of the Registrar

COEP Technological University, Pune

Signature: _______________________________

Name & Designation: _______________________________

Date: _______________________________

Official Seal:

— End of EOI —

ANNEXURE-A: Click Here