Nuance Communications has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Madras's TeNet Group (a coalition of faculty from the electrical engineering and computer science and engineering departments of Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai) to enter into a strategic, direct relationship to develop innovative applications based on Nuance technology. Steve Chambers, president of Mobile Solutions and Consumer Services at Nuance Communications and Prof Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwal from IIT signed the MoU.

Nuance and TeNeT will jointly collaborate to develop applications relevant to the Indian market to adopt speech-based applications in e-commerce, remote healthcare and e-governance. Both of them will set up and foster in-campus pilot projects with the aim to help incubate start-ups that will refine, scale and commercialise these solutions. Nuance will also set up a development and testing lab within TeNet. This is the first time that Nuance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an Indian institution.

"We are delighted to be associated with such a prestigious institute in India. This strategic relationship will help us develop innovative applications relevant to the Indian market by using Nuance technology," said Chambers. "We will also explore engaging the TeNeT faculty in an advisory role to provide direction, expertise and guidance with respect to emerging market and technology trends. They have a great pool of researchers and engineers."

Dr Jhunjunwala said, "Nuance Communications is a leading organisation for providing speech and imaging solutions and it's a great opportunity to work closely with them. Our focus is to address pressing needs of India and other developing countries by market-driven product development. This MoU is of real importance and will be beneficial for the researchers in product development."