The academic-industrial partnership has been buzzing in recent years as the concept has immense power in transforming the current phase of science and technology development and implementation at a greater level. Many institutions are taking part in this concept for different motives. These initiatives were expected to develop academia, its learners and industries.
In this regard, the Council for redressal and development of industries in India (CRDI India) has joined hands with IC & SR of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras to form a special type of academic-industrial collaboration initiative called “THE INDUSTRIAL CONCLAVE”.The major objective of the conclave is to boost the development of Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) by engaging them with the scientific community to meet their technological challenges. Precisely the conclave aids the collaboration of the MSMEs with eminent scientific researchers to conduct new research to develop new products/processes or to improve the existing products/process which could increase the market scope of the MSMEs and give them a competitive edge. The conclave also aims to boost the Indian MSMEs to produce more in-land products that could reduce the import dependency in the long term and could move India more sustainable and selfreliable.
The industrial conclave was initiated on 07th October 2022 at IITM, Chennai in the presence of the honourable minister, Thiru. T. Mano Thangaraj, Minister of information technology and digital services department, Government of Tamil Nadu. During his chief guest address, Thiru. T. Mano Thangaraj has addressed many key elements and initiatives that have been put forth by the government of Tamil Nadu in recent times for the development of MSMEs and the unorganised business sector. He further pinpointed the need for improved focus on plastic alternatives, quality products in solar power generation systems, semiconductors, drone technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) based work monitoring etc. He also emphasised the launch of the VALAR portal by the government to boost the discussions about problems and solutions for the issues faced by MSMEs. He briefed the vision of the honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. Stalin, in bringing the INCLUSIVE GROWTH in the state which comprises the development of all classes of people with equality.
Further representatives of different industrial organisations were involved in a panel discussion to boost the necessity of academic and industrial bridging. Representatives of BioLim also participated in the interactions in the conclave and discussed bringing values to MSMEs by triggering the learning community to develop newer products and processes through research and development. BioLim’s upcoming cloud based research platform will be more equipped with this type of academia and industrial bridging for improved productivity.