Partnership Overview
Saint‑Gobain and CEPT University issued a joint press release from Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 28 July 2026, announcing a strategic partnership to establish a climate‑resilient Tech Commons Centre (TCC). The collaboration aims to accelerate research, prototyping, skill development and industry‑led knowledge exchange in sustainable construction, energy efficiency and wellbeing for the Indian built environment.
Tech Commons Centre Details
The TCC will be organized around four specialised hubs: (1) Building Science and Climate Resilience, (2) Urban Intelligence and Digital Twins, (3) Computational Design and Visualisation, and (4) Communications and Media. Shared facilities will enable hands‑on learning, real‑world problem solving and close interaction between academia and industry, providing architecture students with a living laboratory tailored to India’s unique climate and urban challenges.
Saint‑Gobain Sustainable Solutions
Sreedhar N., Senior Vice‑President and CEO – Asia Pacific and India Region, stated that Saint‑Gobain’s sustainable solutions can achieve up to 40 % lower energy consumption in buildings, reduce embodied carbon, improve circularity, enhance durability and deliver healthier, more comfortable indoor environments. The company highlighted benefits such as improved thermal comfort, natural daylighting, acoustics, indoor air quality and fire safety, which collectively lower dependence on imported fuels, cut operating costs and boost productivity in workplaces, learning outcomes in schools, patient recovery in healthcare facilities and overall quality of life.
Saint‑Gobain’s global profile was outlined: €46.5 billion in sales for FY 2025, a workforce of 162,000 employees across 81 countries, and a corporate commitment to achieve net‑zero carbon emissions by 2050.
CEPT University Profile
Prof. Barjor Mehta, President of CEPT University, emphasized the university’s role in generating knowledge that tackles real‑world challenges and noted that the TCC will bring academic inquiry closer to professional practice. CEPT, ranked #6 in the NIRF Rankings 2025, comprises five faculties—Architecture, Planning, Technology, Design and Management. In December 2023, the Government of India recognised CEPT as a Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design, accompanied by a Rs 250 crore endowment earmarked for research and training over the next 25 years. The university is also recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) and by the Government of Gujarat as a Centre of Excellence. CEPT maintains over 30 active collaborations and exchange programmes with top‑ranked global universities.
Statements and Visuals
The release included remarks from Subramanian Venktaraman, Managing Director of Saint‑Gobain India, alongside Sreedhar N. and Prof. Mehta in a photo caption, underscoring the joint commitment to foster sustainable building practices and to nurture the next generation of talent that will shape India’s built environment for decades.
Additional Context
The partnership aligns with India’s broader “Viksit Bharat” vision, wherein every building is expected to contribute to energy security, lower carbon emissions and enhanced well‑being. Saint‑Gobain positioned its Made‑in‑India sustainable solutions as a catalyst for advancing the nation’s Net‑Zero ambitions while delivering lasting value for future generations.