Srinagar: The two-day national workshop on Design Component under MSME innovative scheme in collaboration with Innovation began Monday at SKICC Srinagar. During the function speakers vowed to overcome the gap between industry and academia in the region.
The workshop is being jointly organized by Branch Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) DFO Srinagar Kashmir in association with Incubation & Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IIEDC) National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar.
The inaugural function of the event was presided over by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Sehgal, Director General EDI, Director, Ajaz Ahamed Bhatt, IAS, Director Handicraft & Handloom, Mr. Mehmood Ahmad Shah, JKAS were ‘Guest of Honor’ on the occasion.
Director NIT Srinagar said that there is a need to overcome the gap between industry and academia by fostering stronger partnerships and collaborations. “Collaborations will lead development of new products, technologies, and services that can drive economic growth and benefit society as a whole. The relationship between academia and industry is important for driving innovation and economic growth,” he said.
Prof. Segal said organizing such workshops are critical for generating new knowledge, building new infrastructure, and educating innovators and entrepreneurs.
In his presidential address, Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said youth should become job creators rather than job seekers. There is a need for determination, not money, to become successful game changers in society, he said.
Director, Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS) said that they are aimed to create a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem in J&K. We are offering a number of schemes to empower youth and are ready to offer any support, he said.
“Academic researchers can share their expertise and knowledge with industry partners, while industry partners can provide real-world problems and challenges that can inform academic research,” Director EDI said.
Director, Handloom and Handicrafts, Mehmood Ahmad Shah said that the handicrafts sector is among the oldest industries of Kashmir. We have around 3.30 lakh artisan’s associated with the department and provide direct and indirect employment to hundreds of people in the region, he said.
On the occasion, Saheel Alaqband IEDS (Branch MSME DFO, Srinagar) said that the era of money and fuel has changed now it is time for data and innovations. “Even we don’t have data available within the MSME itself, so once there is no data, there is no development, documentation. Due to these things one cannot find loopholes in the enterprises. It is not easy to document everything, but it is a vital part for overall development,” he said.
Head IIEDC, Dr. Saad Parvez said that the scheme helps MSMEs realize and achieve their design-related objectives. NIT Srinagar will serve as a connecting link between the MSMEs and Government in developing a work plan to attain objectives of the scheme, he said.
President Industrial Estate, Syed Afaq Qadri, PHDCCI Kashmir Vicky Shaw also shared their experience with the participants and hoped that the workshop will prove beneficial for the participants.

KR Desk