Cusat to set up industry-incubation centre

Updated on: Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has embarked on an ambitious programme to explore the research and technological capabilities of the university for the advancement of the industry in the State and outside.

An industry-incubation centre showcasing the research and scientific potentials of the university will be inaugurated soon on the campus. The objective of the centre is to generate financial resources for the varsity by extending its cutting edge technologies and research facilities for the industry.

According to the project report on the centre, nearly 26 departments of the university will showcase its capabilities aimed at accelerating the growth of various industrial units. The varsity will invite corporate leaders to visit the campus to take stock of the facilities available on the campus.

The centre will take the lead in procuring projects from industrial units. It will provide various solutions to the industry by effectively channelling its research and academic potentials.

Stating that industrial incubation centre is a relatively new concept in Indian academic institutions, where leading and cutting edge research is being carried out, Vice Chancellor in-charge A. Jayakrishnan said that a business research model is slowly emerging with the objective of possible transfer of technology for commercial exploitation.

“Often, research that has some commercial potential leaves the work bench only to find a place in research journals. But, the situation is changing and the possible exploitation of research outputs for societal good is in evidence. The economic activity of generation wealth, which is important in any society, through research in the realms of science and technology is the paradigm of 20th and 21st century,” he said.

Pointing out that it is important to showcase the research capabilities of universities and other institutions engaged in research to the potential industrial entrepreneurs, Dr. Jayakrishnan said that the incubation centres will be happy hunting grounds for venture capitalists in search of cutting edge technologies.

“The result would be generation of novel research findings that will ultimately result in societal good. This symbiotic relationship is a must to ensure that the investments in the educational sector contribute to national development and also to justify the utility and relevance of universities in facilitation national development,” he said.

Explaining that research has been marked by an intimate engagement with productive processes, the industrial environment and corporate policy, Joy Job Kulavelil, Chairman of the coordination committee of the industry-incubation centre, said that Cusat has a resource pool capable of addressing the high-end requirements of knowledge consultancy.

An industry-incubation centre has been formulated to give momentum to the current engagement of the university with the dynamic requirements of business, enterprise, planning and economic policy. It will provide an interface for the industries with different centres engaged in research, Dr. Kulavelil said.

Various departments and schools have audited their areas of strength, specialisation and capabilities for technology incubation. They have also documented their previous track record. The Industries Department, which had earlier provided Rs.10 lakh as seed money for setting up the centre, will convene a meeting of industrial heads to step up the industry-university relationship.

The departments have also outlined their core competency areas in the project document prepared in connection with the setting up of the centre. Research and technological facilities available in each department are also included in the report. Industrial units can use these data for granting projects to the departments. K. Girish Kumar, Head of the Department of Applied Chemistry, will be the co-ordinator of the new centre.

Cusat to set up industry-incubation centre

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