Collaboration Program of the IEEE ComSoc Kolkata Chapter with SUTD Singapore

By Pallab Ganguly - IEEE ComSoc Kolkata Chapter Chair, India

The IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) Kolkata Chapter team visited the SUTD campus on April 11, 2025, and collaborated with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to advance Smart City and Smart Grid research. The visit included tours of SUTD’s iTrust Cybersecurity Lab, Electric Power Intelligent Control (EPIC) Smart Grid Testbed, and Secure Water Treatment (SWaT) and Water Distribution (WADI) plants, alongside a presentation from SUTD and IEEE ComSoc, Kolkata chapter, on recent advancements in smart grid and smart city research. This article summarizes the technical insights, proposed action points, and strategic roadmap for future IEEE ComSoc, Kolkata, and SUTD, Singapore collaborations in Cybersecurity and Smart City/Smart Grid simulation programs.

Smart City and Smart Grid technologies are pivotal for addressing urbanization and energy challenges through advanced communication and cybersecurity systems. The ComSoc Kolkata chapter visited the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to foster collaboration in these domains. Dr. Pallab Ganguly (Chairman) and Mr. Subhamoy Chakraborty (Industry Chairman) explored SUTD’s state-of-the-art facilities, and Dr. Sudipta Chattopadhyay, Associate Professor from SUTD, facilitated the visit. This article outlines the visit’s activities, technical discussions, and proposed initiatives to drive joint research.

Visit to the iTrust Cybersecurity Lab

The visit began at SUTD’s iTrust Cybersecurity Lab, which features an IoT Automatic Security Testbed with a Scalable Hybrid IoT Honeypot and Live Malware Analysis System. The CyberX Room’s advanced configurations support testing of IoT protocols like MQTT and CoAP. The delegation highlighted the lab’s potential for India’s Smart City cybersecurity needs, emphasizing machine learning-based threat detection.

Visit to the EPIC Smart Grid Testbed and SWaT/WADI Plants

The EPIC Smart Grid Testbed, aligned with the NIST Smart Grid Framework, includes Generation, Transmission, Distribution, and Smart Home stages. The Kolkata team suggested adding Market, O&M, and Service Provider components per the NIST standard and segregating SCADA from PLCs for enhanced cybersecurity. The SWaT and WADI plants, adhering to the Purdue Model, utilize EtherNet/IP and Modbus protocols for testing OT cybersecurity. These facilities are ideal for simulating attacks on protocols like IEC 61850, offering insights for India’s urban water systems.

Presentations and Discussions

SUTD presented iTrust’s partnerships with Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency and Energy Market Authority, focusing on AI-driven Smart City solutions. IEEE ComSoc Kolkata shared a presentation on the Smart City standardization framework and a Smart Intelligent Park simulation, aligning with IEEE P2413. Both parties emphasized the bridging of research and practical applications.

Conclusions

The following action points were proposed:

  • Collaboration Charter: drafted to formalize ties.

  • Smart Intelligent Park: Pilot in Kolkata/Guwahati by 2025-26 with SUTD’s support.

  • NIST Integration in SUTD testbed: Enhance EPIC testbed with Market and Service

  • Provider integration with ComSoc Kolkata expertise.

  • Future Programs: Planning of workshops and exchanges.

The main objectives are to facilitate joint technical workshops, seminars, and webinars, enable student and researcher exchange programs between IEEE and SUTD, support joint research proposals and funding applications in relevant domains, promote standards development and policy dialogue on emerging technologies, and enhance industry-academia engagement for real-world impact.

The IEEE ComSoc, Kolkata Chapter’s visit to SUTD catalyzed Smart City and Smart Grid research advancements. By leveraging SUTD’s facilities and Expertise of ComSoc, Kolkata, the collaboration established a roadmap for cybersecurity and smart grid/smart city research innovation. The proposed charter and pilot projects promise impactful India-Singapore partnerships, aligning with IEEE’s mission to advance technology for the benefit of humanity. This charter sets forth the framework for collaboration between the IEEE ComSoc Chapter and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), represented by Dr. Sudipta Chattopadhyay, to jointly promote research, development, and knowledge exchange in the fields of Smart Grids and Advanced Power Systems; Smart Cities and Urban Innovation; Intelligent Systems and Edge AI.

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