The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly design and implement evidence-based solutions for building sustainable and resilient urban systems across India.
At a time when India’s cities are expanding rapidly and facing increasingly complex environmental and infrastructure challenges, the MoU establishes a shared framework to develop solutions grounded in data and aligned with on-the-ground realities. Housed under the University of Chicago Trust, EPIC India signed this agreement with NIUA at a meeting in Delhi on 23rd April 2026 in the presence of Dr. Leni Chaudhari, Executive Director, University of Chicago Trust, India, and Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director, NIUA. The partnership pairs EPIC India’s strength in rigorous, evidence-based research with NIUA’s role as a leading national think tank on urban development under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Through this collaboration, the two institutions will work jointly on building a stronger evidence base across key urban systems, including air quality, solid waste management, transport, water, climate mitigation and adaptation, and public health. The partnership will also focus on developing and testing scalable interventions, strengthening institutional capacity, and supporting urban local bodies and state agencies with tools, frameworks, and decision-support systems. By combining research, technical expertise, and policy engagement, the collaboration aims to bridge the gap between evidence and implementation and support more effective urban governance.
Reflecting on this new partnership, Dr. Kaushik Deb, Executive Director, EPIC India, said, “India’s urban transition presents both a significant challenge and an opportunity to rethink how cities grow and function. This partnership with NIUA allows us to bring rigorous evidence into the heart of urban policymaking and implementation. By working closely with governments and institutions, we jointly aim to design solutions that are practical, scalable, and responsive to the needs of Indian cities.”
The MoU also creates opportunities for joint knowledge-sharing, capacity-building programmes, and dissemination of insights through workshops, platforms, and collaborative initiatives, intending to enable peer learning and replication across cities. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment of both institutions to support India’s urban future through evidence-led, scalable, and impact-driven approaches.