BANGALORE, INDIA -- Duke University launched an office in Bangalore this summer to foster collaborations between North Carolina-based Duke and Indian universities and organizations.

The entity, called Duke University India, builds on existing Duke-India partnerships, including academic exchange programs and research collaborations.

Duke’s current partners in India include NITI-Aayag, the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University in Ahmedabad, Narayana Health City, the Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar.

Namrata Jha, executive director of Duke University India, said the office will support existing collaborations and foster developing relationships, particularly in the areas of environmental science and global health.

“Global education is transforming this world,” Jha said. “When Duke scholars team up with Indian counterparts in research and education, they have the potential to pursue groundbreaking projects together.”

Jha said she hopes these projects will positively impact Indian governance and policy, as well as issues of importance to both the United States and India.

To celebrate commencement of operations, Duke University India hosted a launch event on Sept. 18 featuring a conversation between Dr. Michael Merson, vice president and vice provost of global affairs at Duke, and Dr. Devi Shetty, chairman and founder of Narayana Health.