Bhubaneswar: The Utkal University on Friday hosted a delegation from NITI Aayog and the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi as part of the National Study on Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in State Public Universities (SPUs).
The study, commissioned jointly by NITI Aayog and FITT, aims to assess and strengthen the research, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem in 108 State Public Universities across 18 states. It aligns with India’s national vision of Viksit Bharat—to nurture a generation of young innovators and entrepreneurs capable of shaping the country’s economic and technological future.
Recognized for its contribution to youth education, research, and innovation, Utkal University has been shortlisted as one of the key participating universities in this nationwide initiative. The meeting, held at the Syndicate Hall, RUSA Bhawan, was chaired by Prof. Jagneshwar Dandapat, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Utkal University, and attended by a distinguished gathering of academic, industrial, and policy leaders.
The visiting delegation included Dr. Shikha Dhawan, Co-Principal Investigator of the study, FITT–IIT Delhi, and Ms. Arunima Goyal, Consultant, NITI Aayog. The session brought together 79 stakeholders representing a wide cross-section of academia, government, and industry, including SPU leadership, administrators, alumni, entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs, investors, and external mentors.
Participants hailed from diverse institutions and sectors such as the Higher Education Department, Odisha Public Service Commission, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, and CSIR–IMMT, along with founders and CEOs of leading enterprises including Abgenex India Pvt. Ltd., Procyto Labs, and others. Directors of five startups incubated at the Utkal Centre for Innovation and Incubation Foundation (UCIIF) also joined the deliberations, representing sectors like ITES, Development Consulting, Electronics, Natural Resource Management, and EdTech.
Adding depth to the discussion were three investors and five local entrepreneurs, who contributed practical insights on the challenges and opportunities of building a sustainable innovation ecosystem in eastern India.
In his address, Prof. Dandapat underscored Utkal University’s growing role as a hub for research and innovation in the state. He highlighted the institution’s efforts to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and its Centres of Excellence, established under World Bank–OHEPEE and RUSA. He also spoke about the Utkal Centre for Innovation & Incubation Foundation (UCIIF), a key platform supported under RUSA 2.0 (Ministry of Education, Government of India & Government of Odisha), which has become instrumental in nurturing startups and bridging academia-industry partnerships.
Prof. Dandapat further elaborated on the university’s collaborative initiatives with the Centre for Agri Management, focusing on high-growth areas such as Agritech and FoodTech, Greentech, Nutraceuticals, Fintech, EdTech, Rural Technology, IoT, Robotics, ITES, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.
He also highlighted the NU-IDEA Program, a strategic collaboration with Northeastern University, Boston, USA, launched in October 2024, which aims to institutionalize entrepreneurship education and strengthen the innovation ecosystem within Utkal University.
As part of the program, focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with faculty members and students, along with stakeholder interviews conducted both online and offline. The NITI Aayog–FITT team also toured several key facilities on campus, including the Central Instrumentation Facility, which houses advanced research instruments; the UCIIF, which showcased its ongoing startup incubation and industry partnership programs; and the BARC Outreach Centre, which focuses on product- and service-based extension initiatives.
The Venture Development Centre (VDC) also participated in the discussions, highlighting the activities of the university’s Entrepreneurs Club and the upcoming entrepreneurship development courses for students.
The deliberations concluded with a strong consensus on the need to enhance collaboration among academia, industry, and government to accelerate innovation-driven regional growth.
Reflecting on the successful engagement, Dr. Shikha Dhawan commended Utkal University’s proactive initiatives in creating a vibrant environment for research and innovation. She noted that the institution’s multi-pronged approach—spanning incubation, entrepreneurship education, and technology transfer—could serve as a model for other State Public Universities across India.
The event concluded with optimism and a shared commitment to advancing India’s innovation capacity, reaffirming Utkal University’s role as a catalyst in the country’s evolving research and entrepreneurial landscape.
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