Jan 14, 2024
NITC MoU partners Annual Summit
Experts discuss scope of setting up Medical Device Cluster in Kozhikode
An Annual Summit of MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) partners of National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) discussed the scope of setting up a medical device cluster in Kozhikode. The Summit was hosted by the Centre for Industry Institutional Relations (CIIR), NITC to emphasise the crucial nexus between industry and academia.
According to experts, Medical Colleges, Technology Institutions and Research Hubs like NITC, Industrial support and a start-up environment in Kozhikode make Kozhikode a perfect place to establish the Cluster. They also discussed the challenges and advantages of Kozhikode.
Over 100 participants, including 40 representatives from various MoU partners, convened at the Senate Hall for insightful discussions.
The Summit was inaugurated by Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director of NIT Calicut, who emphasized the need for breaking down disciplinary silos for collaborative problem-solving. He advocated for interdisciplinary collaboration not only in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Management) fields but also in arts and humanities.
Dr. N. Ashokan, Principal of Kozhikode Medical College, stressed the importance of collaboration between the medical and engineering sectors, particularly for advancements in medical instrumentation. He urged CIIR and NITC to conduct sessions for medical students, highlighting the potential solutions that engineering institutions can offer to the challenges faced by medical institutions.
Prof. Jose Mathew, Chairman of CIIR and Dr. Maneesh, Coordinator of the event were also present at the inaugural session. Talks by experts from Academia and Industry discussed the scope of collaboration.
Dr. Sadanand Gokhale, Former Professor & Head of Aerospace and Dean Student at IIT Madras, and Former Director of NITC, delivered a thought-provoking paper on Industry-Institute Synergy, Academic Reforms & Industry 4.0. He underscored the necessity for flexibility in academia, proposing modifications in academic calendars, personalized teaching, collaborative learning, and support services to adapt to the changing world.
Dr. Gokhale also discussed post-COVID-19 challenges in academia and urged experts to prepare for potential future lockdowns. He suggested that academia should focus on preparing students for Industry 5.0, expected to commence by the end of the decade.
Mrs. Beena Gokhale, Former Principal of BVB Schools in Kozhikode & Nagpur, and Former Visiting Faculty in LNMIIT Jaipur, spoke on ‘Women Empowerment and NEP 2020’. Another session by Mr. C Balagopal, Former Civil Servant and Former Chairman of Federal Bank Ltd, emphasized the 'Importance of Industry in Research and Innovation.' He stressed the necessity for system change and collaboration between research labs and R&D institutions.
Panel discussions were also held as part of the summit. The first, moderated by Mr. C Padmakumar, Special Officer of Kerala Medical Technology Consortium, focused on creating a Medical Device Cluster in Kozhikode. The second, moderated by Dr. Savio Sebastian, Adjunct Professor at NIT Calicut, delved into strategies and innovations to strengthen Industry-Academia collaboration and improve research output.
The distinguished panellists at the MoU Partners Annual Summit brought a wealth of expertise and diverse perspectives to the discussions. Dr. Santhosh Kuriakose, a Professor at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Mr. Ravi Raghavan, the Managing Director of BFW, Bangalore, Mr. Shilen Sagunan, from Mizone (Malabar Innovation Entrepreneurship Zone), Dr. Suresh P S, Associate Professor at NIT Calicut, Dr. Ajith Kaliyath from KILA, Mr. Sharath M Nair, Kozhikode Center Operations Manager at Tata Elxsi, Dr. Sooraj V S, Associate Professor at IIST, Thiruvananthapuram, and Dr. Ravi Varma, Professor at NIT Calicut, enriched the discussions with their respective areas of expertise.
Media Reports