Dubai - UAE: 30 November 2015: KEF Holdings, a Dubai-based multinational holding company that specializes in innovative offsite construction technology, has tied up with Manipal University, a global player in education and health care, to set up a state of the art research and development facility for the incoming batch of civil engineering and architecture students. The upcoming facility will be known as MIT-KEF R&D Center and will be located on Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) premises. Both parties have equally contributed to this venture, which totals INR10 crores.

Faizal E. Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal, founders of KEF Holdings joined Dr. Ramdas M. Pai, Chancellor, Manipal University, as he laid the foundation stone for the MIT-KEF R&D Center yesterday.

The MIT-KEF R&D Center will cover an area of about 28,000 square feet, comprising of several design studios, well equipped casting and testing laboratories for precast joints, beams and slabs, modelling and simulation laboratories, a conference hall, and a museum.

Drawing from its veritable experience in the field of smart construction, KEF Holdings is working with Manipal University to enrich the civil engineering and architecture programme curriculum, by introducing in-depth modules on offsite and modular construction. The MIT-KEF R&D Center will provide budding engineers with practical know-how on offsite construction.  Moving forward, KEF Holdings plan to recruit talent from the university for internships as well as full time roles.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Faizal E. Kottikollon, Founder and Chairman of KEF Holdings said, "Having been an engineering student myself, I am well aware of the importance of applied learning and research to an engineer's career growth. Through this R&D facility, we hope to further hone India's best talent and enable them to provide effective solutions for tomorrow's challenges. Having graduated as a civil engineer from MIT and earning an MBA from TAPMI, I have immense respect for this institution. I have always wanted to make a contribution towards strengthening the R&D facility of my alma mater. Today, I am happy that we could make this a reality."

Talking about the partnership, Dr. Ramdas M. Pai said: "I am happy that Faizal is contributing INR 5 crores for the project and am also happy that he is an alumnus. I wish that more and more alumni take interest in our projects by way of grants and donations and continue to contribute to the growth of the University. This project will help Manipal Institute of Technology, one of the leading engineering colleges in the country, to do better and get a name in construction technology as well."

KEF Holdings has pioneered technology-driven offsite construction in India through its infrastructure arm, KEF Infra, at the KEF Infra One industrial park located in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu - the world's largest infrastructure facility of its kind. The company seeks to contribute in India's progress through providing high quality, integrated infrastructure solutions by employing the best in-class technology from around the globe.

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About KEF Holdings (www.kefholdings.com )

Established in 2007, KEF Holdings is a new era social enterprise registered in Singapore. Founded by Faizal E. Kottikollon, the company operates across India, the Middle East and Singapore.

The company has six business verticals - KEF Infra, KEF Health, KEF Education, KEF Agri, KEF Metals and KEF Investments - that focus on the infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, metals and investment sectors respectively. KEF's industrial forte lies in its ability to create integrated business processes and deliver cutting-edge off-site construction technology and solutions, including precast, prefabricated bathrooms, joinery and aluminum glazing. The company applies this expertise to the creation and upgrades for essential infrastructure, such as educational, healthcare, commercial and residential facilities.

KEF Holdings is guided by the philanthropic vision of its founder and Chairman Faizal E. Kottikollon and his wife Shabana Faizal, Vice Chairperson. The company, in close collaboration with stakeholders in the public and private sectors, actively drives, funds and supports high-impact social activities undertaken by the Faizal and Shabana Foundation. KEF Holdings does this through providing innovative industrial technologies, products and processes designed to create shared value by increasing productivity, quality and sustainability.

For more information, please contact:
Gunjan Sinha / Sreekanth Sreenivasan
KEF Holdings
Mobile: +971 56 505 7816 / Mobile +971 52 917 5959
Email: gunjan.sinha@thekefcompany.com / sreekanth@thekefcompany.com

© Press Release 2015