Srinagar: Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Talat Ahmad Friday inaugurated an innovators’ meet at the varsity’s Institute of Technology (IoT), Zakura Campus.
The day-long meet was organised by the National Innovation Foundation Cell-JK, established at the University of Kashmir under the aegis of National Innovation Foundation-India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Addressing academics and grassroots innovators on the occasion, Prof Talat announced establishment of the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship at the Zakura Campus, with an outlay of Rs four crore under RUSA, to facilitate grassroots innovators to float their innovative ideas and go for their patenting.
“We are committed to foster the culture of innovation in the university and provide a professional platform to students and youth from J&K UT to learn about innovation and incubation in a proper innovation ecosystem,” he said.
Director NIF-India Dr Vipin Kumar delivered the inaugural address in online mode, highlighting the country-wide scenario of ‘Innovators of Tomorrow’ scheme under the NIF’s Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge (MANAK) programme.
Kumar assured that a large number of youth from J&K will get nurtured under the MANAK scheme in the years to come.
In his special remarks, Dean School of Engineering Prof Muzaffar Andrabi said innovators are assets for the society and need to be encouraged and provided with all kinds of support until they actually convert their ideas into useful industrial products.
The inaugural function, among others, was attended by Prof Iqbal Hakeem, Prof Showket A Shah, Dr Altaf Hussain Pandith, Akhtar Hussain Malik, District Nodal Officers of NIF JK-Cell/INSPIRE programme and scores of grassroots’ innovators.
