Memorandum of Understanding between the World Technology Access Program (World TAP), Michigan State University (MSU) and the S

July 29, 2019

DRAFT TEMPLATE

Letter of Intent (LoI) for Collaboration Between

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), Michigan State University (MSU),

East Lansing, Michigan, USA

and

Somaiya Vidya Vihar (SVV), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Michigan State University (MSU): MSU, a premier land-grant university in the United States of

America is recognized as a world-wide center of excellence in international agricultural research,

education and outreach. MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) has developed and

implemented a number of collaborative research, education and outreach programs with public and

private organizations and universities across India and South Asia.

Somaiya Vidya Vihar (SVV): SVV is a non-profit educational trust that operates educational

institutions in Mumbai and other parts of India. The SVV operates 34 colleges and institutes in India

and provides higher education to more than 39,000 students. The SVV has more than 1,500 faculty

members conducting interdisciplinary research, education and outreach programs in rural and urban

areas of India. The SVV has a strong focus on community resource development and livelihood

enhancement.

The purpose of this letter of intent (LoI) is to set an understanding of the parties (MSU and SVV) and to

define potential areas of collaboration and facilitation functions between the parties. The MSU/CANR

and SVV intend to collaborate to establish a long-term program in Sustainable Development including

the following broad areas: 1) Soil Health; 2) Probiotics and Microbial Solutions; 3) Ecofriendly

Packaging from Agricultural Waste; 4) Big Data and Precision Agriculture; 4) Healthy Recipe; and 5)

Bioenergy and Renewable Energy.

MSU/CANR and SVV propose the following collaborative activities:

 Develop joint proposals for collaborative research, education and outreach in the identified areas.

 Exchange of faculty members, research scientists, administrators and students in the areas of mutual

interest contingent upon the availability of funding and approval of each institution.

 Exchange of information, publications, protocols, research and training materials in line with

intellectual property rights policies of each institution.

 Exchange of technologies for collaborative research and development through appropriate technology

transfer agreements and approval of each institution.

 Organize joint workshops, conferences, and training programs contingent upon the availability of

funding and approval of each institution.

This Letter of Intent (LoI) is valid for one year from the date of signing.

________________________________ _________________________

Dr. Douglas D. Buhler Shri. Samir Somaiya

Director AgBioResearch Chairman

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Somaiya Vidhya Vihar

Michigan State University. East Lansing, U.S.A Mumbai, India

Date: Date: