Mangaluru: Nitte DU establishes Technology Enabling Center funded by union ministry

Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 27 Oct 2020: Nitte DU (Deemed to be University) has been chosen by union Department Science and Technology (DST) to host the Technology Enabling Center (TEC) for Karnataka.

 

It is currently 1 of 10 such Centers established at national level. DST and other national funding agencies realize that most of academic research lies in shelves of academic institutions, though they have potential to lead to development of technologies. The level of maturity of technology is indicated in terms of Technology Readiness Level (TRL). Research Leads may be at TRL 1 or 2. There may be need to continue research to demonstrate feasibility and this moves the research lead to from TRL 2 to TRL 4. Technology development will lead to progress from TRL 3 to TRL 6, technology demonstration from TRL 5 to TRL 7 and so on.

 

 

Technology Enabling Centers are expected to create an ecosystem for academic research to lead to technology development by networking with institutions, national laboratories and industry. The TEC will mine research leads from academic institutions which may be at Technology Readiness Levels of 1-3 and facilitating the development of industry ready technologies through support towards scaling up, pilot testing, field testing and validation. This may require infusion of additional expertise that can come from other disciplines, for example, biomedical sciences collaborating with institutions with expertise in engineering or pharmacy or agri-biotechnology or food processing technologies or economics, business management and marketing. The TEC is mandated to assess the technology and service needs of Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) in Karnataka enable access to these through the network of institutions and industries.

 

Nitte DU provided 3,000 sq ft area in Architecture College building, Paneer campus, here to house the TEC. DST provided support for state of the art networking equipments and infrastructural facilities.

 

The newly-developed Center was inaugurated by Vinay Hegde, chancellor, Nitte (DU) here on October 23.

 

 Dr Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, vice chancellor, Dr Moodithaya, pro-vice chancellor and heads of Institutions of Nitte (DU) were present.

 

Dr Indrani Karunasagar, director of TEC and Dr Smitha Hegde, coordinator explained the newly created facilities, which includes Patents, IPR and Technology Transfer Cell headed by Dr Iddya Karunasagar; state-of-the-art training facility with smart board, networking and discussion rooms, webinar and video conferencing facility.

 

The chancellor Vinay Hegde and vice chancellor Dr Satheesh Kumar Bhandary assured all support from the management to DST TEC and encouraged the Center to facilitate development of technologies that will help local educated youth to become entrepreneurs, self-reliant and create more job opportunities in the region.