Department of Science & Technology picks Tezpur University to promote R&D in NE

A Correspondent

Tezpur: It may turn out to be a major boost for the entire north-eastern region as a whole in terms of research and development output (R&D), Intellectual Property (IP), research translation and technology commercialization as Tezpur University (TU) has been handpicked by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, as one of the nodal centres in the north-eastern region for establishing the Technology Enabling Centre (TEC).

There is a fund allocation of Rs 5 crore to each nodal centre to create an ecosystem for Technology Development and to provide a platform to network researchers with other institutes, national laboratories and industry for developing a self-sustainable TEC in the next 5 years. A three-member team constituted by the Dean, School of Engineering, Prof. CL Mahanta, Head, Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), Dr. Soumik Roy and Coordinator, Tezpur University Intellectual Property Rights Cell, Prof. Pritam Deb of Tezpur University presented the proposal in front of Expert Advisory Group (EAG) constituted by the DST on TEC at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai in September. Tezpur University has competed with some of the best universities of India and received the centre. In coming months, the TU TEC team will undergo an orientation programme at IIT Delhi for establishment of this project at TU.

“Very shortly the university is planning to organize a dissemination workshop along with academic institutions of the regions and industries,” said Dr. Soumik Roy, Head, CIIE. “A rapid expansion has been observed over a period of time in the R&D output of the country in terms of publications, IP, research translation and technology commercialization. These outcomes are playing an important role in the country’s economic development. Academia is the prime resource in any country for generating new knowledge and its conversion to wealth. Hence, establishing of TEC at Tezpur University may usher new ideas in terms R&D in the NE region,” Dr. Roy further added.

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