A wide-ranging delegation of University of Cambridge academics has just returned from an unprecedented two-week visit to India.

The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alison Richard and more than 20 senior colleagues were in India travelling to New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Their aim was to increase the visibility of Cambridge's many links with India, to give formal recognition to existing partnerships and to build new partnerships with colleagues in academic, industrial and NGO organisations.

The visit began with the announcement of the Jawarhalal Nehru Professorship in Indian Business and Enterprise, which has been established at Judge Business School, Cambridge with a gift of £3.2 million from the Indian Government.

Professor Richard was able to thank the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh personally when he hosted a private lunch for her at his Residence in Delhi.

The party met with a number of Indian higher education institutions and with some key figures in India's fast-developing corporate world.

Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed with five different organisations, including Tata Sons Ltd and the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore, building on existing strong relationships and establishing support for student exchanges and internships in India.

Joint academic workshops were held on topics ranging from stem cell biology and drug discovery to social development and innovation and entrepreneurship.

Receptions were held for alumni in Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai, reaffirming and strengthening existing bonds.

In addition to one-to-one discussions with academics, government and private sector leaders, the Vice-Chancellor made formal presentations to over 1,000 people.

For more than 150 years Cambridge has attracted scholars from India, including many of the country's leading figures – academics, scientists, industrialists and politicians, including Manmohan Singh who graduated with a First in Economics from St John's College in 1957.

“This was a truly exhilarating visit,” Professor Richard said. “It has illuminated a rich array of partnerships and collaborations between Cambridge people and Indian academic and industrial partners and has opened up opportunities to build our relationships still further.”

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