From left to right: Rakesh Naidu of ONHealth Alliance, India’s Consul General Mahaveer Singhvi, University of Windsor President and Vice-Chancellor J.J. McMurtry and Chris Busch, associate vice-president, global engagement, during the Consul General's visit to the University of Windsor on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (University of Windsor)
Connecting Windsor’s automotive research expertise with local companies operating in India and exploring an Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) chair emerged as two opportunities during a visit to the University of Windsor by India’s Consul General, Mahaveer Singhvi.
Accompanied by Rakesh Naidu of ONHealth Alliance, Singhvi met with President and Vice-Chancellor J.J. McMurtry and Chris Busch, associate vice-president, global engagement, on Oct. 5 to discuss ways to build on Windsor’s academic, research and community connections with India.
A key focus was connecting automotive companies with operations in both Windsor-Essex and India with UWindsor researchers.
These relationships could help identify shared industry challenges and develop collaborative projects in electric mobility, advanced manufacturing and related technologies, while creating opportunities for student research and experiential learning.
“Local companies with operations in India offer a valuable connection between our region’s automotive expertise and opportunities for international collaboration,” said Busch. “By bringing industry partners and our researchers together, we can identify practical challenges to address jointly and create opportunities for students to contribute to that work.”
The discussion also explored the possibility of hosting a scholar through ICCR’s India Chairs programme, which supports teaching and academic exchange at universities outside India.
A potential chair at Windsor could enrich learning about India and strengthen connections among scholars, students and the wider community.
The campus tour showcased research that could support future collaboration. Chemistry and biochemistry professor Simon Rondeau-Gagné shared his work on advanced materials for wearable sensors and their potential health applications.
At engineering professor Narayan Kar’s Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy (CHARGE) Lab, the delegation explored research advancing electric vehicle technologies and sustainable transportation.
“These opportunities reflect the breadth of our relationship with India,” Busch said. “Alongside research and industry collaboration, we see value in creating more opportunities for academic exchange and cultural understanding.”
Both areas will be explored through follow-up discussions, building on Windsor’s existing institutional partnerships and the connections sustained by its students, alumni and faculty.