A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between NIOT and Pondicherry University on 19th December 2024 at NIOT Chennai, for conducting M.Sc. Marine Biology course under the Deep Ocean Mission Vertical - 6 Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology. The MoA was signed by Prof. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT and Prof. Joseph Selvin, Director (R&D), Pondicherry University in the presence of Dr.N.V.Vinithkumar, Scientist – F (Project Director DOM V6 – AMSOB) and Dr.G.Dharani, Scientist – G (PD, DOM V3).

This partnership will facilitate the implementation capacity building in UG/PG Courses, Ph.D. & Post Doctoral fellowships.

MOES-NIOT and CDAC Noida signed MOU for joint development of web portal for Advanced Marine Station Ocean Biology under the vertical-6 of Deep Ocean Mission of MOESGOI in presence of DG CDAC and Director NIOT .

The Expert Committee for the Capacity Building Programme (ECCP – AMSOB) was successfully held at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) on 6th February 2025. The session focused on the way forward, including the announcement of PDF’s for the upcoming academic year 2025 – 2026.

On 25th February 2025, a visit was made to Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore for discussions on academic and research collaborations and capacity building in the areas of Ocean Biology.

A team of delegates from Vikrama Simhapuri University (VSU), Nellore consisting on Prof. A. Srinivasa Rao, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, VSU, Dr.K.Suneetha, Registrar (i/c), Dr.Ch.Vijaya, Principal, Dr.M.Hanuma Reddy, Head, Dept. of Marine Biology, Dr.Ch.Venkatrayulu, Assoc Prof., Dr.G.Suajay kumar, Asst. Registrar visited NIOT on 10th March 2025 and had a meeting with Dr.Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT , Dr.N.V.Vinithkumar, PD DOM V6 AMSOB, Dr.G.Dharani, Group Head MBT, PD DOM V3 to discuss about possible collaborations in ocean biology related capacity building programme under the deep ocean mission.

On 25th March 2025, participated and presented in the International Conference on "Blue Revolution: Innovation in Marine Systems" organized by Vikrama Simhapuri University. It explored the possibility of further collaboration in Ocean Biology related areas through DOM V6 AMSOB.

on 17th April 2025, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) sponsored MSc Marine Biology Course was launched by Dr.M Ravichandran, Hon'ble Secretary, Ministry Of Earth Sciences, Government of India at the Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology (DOSMB), Pondicherry University, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) in a function organized at Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands (ACOSTI), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Prof Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT, along with Dr.N.V.Vinithkumar, Project Director, AMSOB-NIOT, and Dr G Dharani, Group Head, MBT, held an insightful discussion with French counter parts Dr.Srini Kaveri, Director, CNRS India and Prof Manell Zakharia. The discussion focused on exploring collaborative opportunities in academia, research, technology and innovation under the Deep Ocean Mission at NIOT.

A team of scientists lead by Prof. Dr.Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT, including Dr.G.Dharani, Group Head, MBT and PD DOM V3, Dr.N.V.Vinithkumar, PD DOM V6 AMSOB, Dr.A.Ganesh Kumar, Scientist-E, and Dr.Pankaj Varma, Scientist-D is on visit to Leibniz Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany, where world largest microorganisms culture collection repository is under operation.

NIOT scientific delegation under leadership of Prof. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT, visited DSMZ Germany the world largest and oldest microbial culture collection facility from 19th to 21st March 2025 and conducted technical meeting with Prof Jorg Overman Director DSMZ and scientists of DSMZ regarding establishment of dee sea microbial repository in NIOT under the Deep Ocean Mission of Ministry of Earth Sciences, of Govt. of India. The scientific delegation includes Dr. G. Dharani, Scientist G & Group Head, MBT and Dr.N.V.Vinithkumar , PD DOM V6, Dr.A.Ganesh Kumar, Scientist-E, and Dr.Pankaj Varma, Scientist-D from MBT NIOT Chennai.

Dr. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director NIOT lead a team including Dr.G.Dharani, Group Head, MBT, PD DOM V3, Dr.N.V.Vinithkumar, PD, DOM V6 AMSOB, Dr.V.Sachithanantham, Sci-E, Dr.V.N.S.Deviram Garlapati, SCI-D, DOM, visited BRICS DBT-Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneshwar, Odisha for discussing about Deep Ocean Mission sponsored project brain storming session and satellite meeting on “Challenges and Opportunities in Marine Bioprospecting in India” organised by ILS.

National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Vikrama Simhapuri University (VSU), Nellore, for the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) sponsored M.Sc. Marine Biology course at VSU under the #DeepOceanMission program, as part of Capacity Building Initiatives. The MoA was signed by Prof. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT, and Prof. A. Srinivasa Rao, Vice Chancellor, VSU. This MoES sponsored programme will benefit marine biology students by providing quality education and training in Ocean Biology. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Nambali Valsalan Vinithkumar, Project Director, DOM V6 AMSOB, Dr. V. Sachithanandam, Scientist-E, NIOT, and from VSU – Dr. K. Suneetha, Registrar (i/c), Dr. Ch. Vijaya, Principal, Dr. M. Hanuma Reddy, along with other officials from both NIOT and VSU. This initiative reflects NIOT’s commitment to nurturing skilled human resources in marine sciences and contributing to sustainable ocean research for societal benefit.

Nurturing Future Ocean Professionals
Under #DeepOceanMission Vertical-6 (AMSOB), NIOT–MoES discussed sponsoring an M.Sc. Marine Biology program with MK Bhavnagar University, Gujarat. This will empower students, boost skills & advance India’s #blueeconomy