The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has struck a major international partnership with Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL), aiming to turbocharge clean energy innovation and startup growth between India and Australia.

 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 02 April in Karnataka by Professor Lisa Zamberlan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), UNSW, and K.P. Rudrappaiah, Managing Director, KREDL, in the presence of senior government and industry stakeholders.

 

At its core, the agreement is designed to accelerate collaboration in renewable energy by linking researchers, startups, and industry players across both countries. A key proposal under the partnership is the establishment of a renewable energy startup incubator in Karnataka, alongside exchange programs and structured capacity-building initiatives through UNSW Founders.

 

KREDL, founded in 1996, has played a central role in advancing Karnataka’s renewable energy sector, supporting developments in solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and cogeneration projects.

 

“The MoU with KREDL strengthens UNSW’s connection to the community we hope to serve, with Karnataka being the home of our first overseas campus UNSW Bengaluru. This partnership aligns strongly with UNSW’s Progress for All strategy, providing innovative pathways for the best use of UNSW and KREDL’s joint strengths to support the transition to renewable energy in India and globally.”

 

K.P. Rudrappaiah, Managing Director, KREDL, said, “The growing partnership between UNSW and KREDL will create positive societal impact in Karnataka and globally, accelerating the transition to renewable energy, generating new investment opportunities for our businesses and leveraging Australian expertise to strengthen our communities and infrastructure.”

 

The MoU also opens up reciprocal access for startups to innovation ecosystems, research infrastructure, and markets in both countries, strengthening cross-border collaboration between universities, researchers, and industry.

 

“The partnership between KREDL and UNSW is a welcome initiative which will support green tech start-ups here in Karnataka.”

 

The collaboration has been facilitated by the Australian India Business Council (AIBC) and Investment NSW, with institutional support from NSRCEL at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). NSRCEL will provide incubation and accelerator support, while IISc will contribute deep-tech expertise, laboratory access, and technical validation for emerging energy technologies.

 

K.J. George, Cabinet Minister of Energy, Government of Karnataka, called the initiative a boost to the state’s innovation ecosystem, saying, “This partnership will drive innovation and incubation in renewable energy technologies and startups, strengthening Karnataka’s relationships with Australian institutions and creating new investment opportunities,” he said.

 

With the UNSW Bengaluru campus set to open in August 2026, the agreement is expected to deepen long-term collaboration in renewable energy and entrepreneurship, positioning Karnataka as a growing global hub for clean energy innovation.