The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta) has entered into an agreement with the School of Design Thinking (SoDT) and Mission Samriddhi (MS) to establish a centre of excellence in design thinking. This collaboration aims to enhance the focus on design thinking in the academic curriculum, research, and projects at IIM Calcutta.

SoDT will partner with IIM Calcutta to apply design thinking across various domains, utilizing its proprietary "Design The Thinking" mindset approach for problem-solving and innovation. On the other hand, Mission Samriddhi will collaborate with IIM Calcutta on community-impacting social initiatives and projects, leveraging its Community Development Framework and research expertise.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between IIM Calcutta, SoDT, and Mission Samriddhi aims to promote design thinking for institutional leadership and will be valid for three years. This collaboration will lead to the establishment of India's first Center of Excellence for Design Thinking in a business school, serving as a hub for all design thinking initiatives undertaken by IIM Calcutta and associated organizations.

SoDT, known for developing India's first program on 'Design The Thinking®,' will offer special courses tailored for students and stakeholders at IIM Calcutta. Mission Samriddhi, through its Community Development Framework, will work on sustainable project design and development, particularly focusing on rural clusters in the region.

Various initiatives will be undertaken as part of this collaboration, including the launch of new courses, interventions in design thinking across different domains, and developing modules and assignments on design thinking for academic and training programs at IIM Calcutta. Overall, this partnership aims to foster a culture of innovation and problem-solving through design thinking within the academic and social spheres.