Need to bridge technological gap between industry, academia, and society: Dir Industries

Srinagar: Two prototypes developed by local innovators including Saffron Processing Machine and Seed Sowing Machine were inaugurated on Tuesday by eminent dignitaries at National Institution of Technology (NIT).
The event was presided over by the Chief Guest, Director, Industries and Commerce, Kashmir, Ms. Saloni Rai, IAS, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganie was Guest of Honor, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. (Dr) Rakesh Sehgal, Assistant Director MSME GOI, Saheel Alaqband and noted industrialist Shakeel Qalander, Abdul Hamed from Rahim motors among others were special guests on the occasion.
NIT Srinagar is the host institute (HI) and an implementing agency (IA) for Incubation and Design schemes of MoMSME, wherein we are in the process of creating value for ideas through incubation and design intervention for MSMEs.
In her keynote address, Director I&C Kashmir, Saloni Rai said there is a need to bridge the gap between Industry, academia, and society.
“I congratulate both innovators who have developed these machines and going ahead, I see this platform as a very good platform for enhancing further integration between the students of NIT Srinagar and society,” she said.
Rai also appreciated the initiative of the MSME department for linking with the students of NIT Srinagar for problem-solving and technology development.
“When we used to study, we felt that there is a lot of academia-industry gap because of what we study and need of the market. There is a lot of gap in between that, so these initiatives are really helpful in bridging that gap,” she said.
Rai said both prototypes would help in increasing productivity and add a certain kind of value to the efforts of the farmers.
VC SKUAST-K, Prof. Ganie congratulated the two prototype innovators for development. He highlighted the wave of entrepreneurship going on in our country and making it a knowledge economy through innovations.
While appreciating both the innovators, Prof. Ganie said there is a need for such innovations and they can be game changers in the future.
He said the knowledge economy is fueled by, innovation, research, and rapid technological advancement. It has placed the IT, and ICT industries at the forefront of overall economic growth, Prof. Ganie added.
On the occasion, Director NIT Prof. Rakesh Sehgal congratulated Dr. Saad Parvaiz and his entire team for taking lead in innovations and entrepreneurship in the institute.
“He is a very passionate worker and has sacrificed his career for the larger interest of the people and community,” Director said.
Prof. Sehgal said the basic mandate of NITs is to produce good professionals and create knowledge so that it can be used for future growth.
“Our aim should be to produce relevant technologies that can ease the lives of the common man in the society, whether it can be farmers, growers, and people associated with industries,” he said.
Prof. Sehgal said over the past 5 years, NIT Srinagar has improved in all sectors including visibility at national and international levels and NIRF rankings were also improved,
“We continue to excel on other diameters as well. Around 52 PhDs and 200 research papers are being produced each year and have started Post. Doc program also. We have filed 28 patents and 9 have been granted so far this year,” he said.
Prof. Sehgal said under UBA, NIT Srinagar has adopted 35 institutions across Kashmir and each institution has adopted five more villages. We are working at the ground level, he added.
In his message, Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said they are committed to serving society through technology and easing the living of common people.
Prof. Bukhari said the end-use of education is to give back to society in the form of solutions to various problems. Research and innovation are critical for generating new knowledge, building new infrastructure, and educating innovators and entrepreneurs, he said.
On the occasion, Assistant Director MSME GOI, Saheel Alaqband talked about the importance of the prototype for industry and agriculture.
He congratulated both the innovators and stated that there is a need to explore more areas, so that gap between industry and community can be filled.
“Recently I met the Minister of MSME in Saffron Park. All the machines were available but this particular Saffron Processing Machine was not there. When I discussed this innovation, they were very happy and stated that it can boost the saffron industry in the region,” he said.
Mr. Alaqband said if this machine will prove successful after trials, it can be the game changer and replace the entire manual process of processing in Valley.
Both the innovators, Mr. Tariq Ahmad and Naik Qayoom were felicitated by the Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Sehgal, Ms. Saloni Rai, Director I&C Kashmir, and Head IIDC Dr. Saad Parvez.
Dr. Saad Parvez, Head Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IIEDC) talked about the growing startup culture and how IIEDC is playing its role in helping to grow that culture in NIT Srinagar as well as in Valley.
“This event was the culmination of the first phase of incubation in which two ideas of local innovators have been developed. The working prototypes include Saffron Processing Machine and Seed sowing machine) which have been successfully developed at NIT Srinagar, with the support of branch MSME Development and facilitation office Srinagar,” he said.
Dr. Saad also presented a brief outline about the two machines. IIEDC is becoming a bridge between budding entrepreneurs and the government schemes that would help them in all possible ways, he said.
“Over the past several years, IIED Center has been at the forefront in terms of innovations. From small ideas to making innovative products such as ventilators, during Covid19, walnut DeHulling machines etc there is no end to innovations,” he said.
It was followed by a small presentation by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, Project Coordinator, IIEDC regarding the design expertise scheme for promoting design ideas of unit holders linked with the scheme.
The event was attended by various personalities including Prof. Babar Ahmad, Dr Shahid Saleem, Dr Noor Zaman, Dr. Parvez Ahmad Reshi, Dr Dinesh Kumar, Dr Sandeep Rathee, Abdul Hamid (Rahim Greens), and innovators from NIT Srinagar and MSME.

KR Desk