CU Punjab Hosts Seminar on ‘Industry-Academia Collaboration and IP Management’

Bathinda, February 17, 2025: The Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab) organized a one-day seminar on “Industry-Academia Collaboration: IP Management and Technology Transfer” to create awareness about intellectual property (IP) management and foster sustainable innovation ecosystems. Sponsored by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), Chandigarh, the seminar was conducted by CU Punjab’s Intellectual Property Management and Commercialization Cell (IPMCC), Institution’s Innovation Council, and Industry Relations Cell, in collaboration with DST-Centre for Policy Research, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

The event was held under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari and featured Prof. Kashmir Singh, Coordinator, DST-Centre for Policy Research, Panjab University, Chandigarh, as keynote speaker. The delegates from Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industries including Er Avnish Khosla, Advisor & Spokesperson, Ramman Watts, Chairman, and Sanjay Jaituram, Secretary of the Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industries graced as distinguished guests. More than 100 students from CU Punjab, other institutes like Baba Farid Group of Institutions, Adesh University attended this seminar.

Addressing the gathering during inaugural session, Er Avnish Khosla, emphasized the crucial role of industry-academia collaboration in accelerating innovation and research-driven solutions. He highlighted that effective IP management and technology transfer are essential for industrial growth, fostering technological advancements, economic progress, and skill development. In his keynote address,

Prof. Kashmir Singh, in his keynote address on “Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Academia,” emphasized the importance of strong academia-industry partnerships to convert research into commercial applications.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, in his presidential address, reiterated CU Punjab’s commitment to promoting industry-academia synergy. He stated that integrating trained R&D manpower, research facilities, marketing expertise, and industry’s manufacturing capabilities can transform academic research into market-ready solutions, benefiting society.

The seminar featured two technical sessions covering innovation-driven development, IP management, and technology commercialization. Experts from diverse domains shared insights on topics such as AI and Industry 4.0 for IP management, accelerating ideas into patents, and the role of business incubators in bridging innovation and market success. Eminent speakers included Dr. T. Senthil Siva Subramanian (National Expert, Asian Productivity Organization, Japan, President IIC, Sharda group of Institutions), Prateek Kanaujia (Xlscout, Talwar and Talwar Consultants), and Dr. Akshay Nag (CEO, CUPRDF, CUPB). The second session focused on IP asset management and commercialization pathways, featuring discussions on technology identification, IP valuation, and licensing.  

Reema Sahni Mediratta (Head, iTTO) briefed about the requirements of successful technology transferred. She also gave critical insights into the policy framework and marketing strategies involved in the commercialization of the research. Dr. Manpreet Singh (Scientist, PSCST, Chandigarh) informed about the various steps being taken by PSCST to bring Academia and Industry close to each other. He further highlighted the current landscape of R&D in Punjab. Captain Rajesh Vaid (Director Operations, RAS Intellect Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) shared their expertise and informed the overall process of patent filing in India
Additionally, an IP and Tech Transfer Clinic was conducted, where experts including Reema Sahni Mediratta, Dr. Aditi Chauhan (DST STI Policy Fellow, IISc Bangalore), and Anju from PSCST, Chandigarh, addressed queries from young researchers and innovators.

The seminar began with addresses by Prof. R.K. Wusirika and Prof. Anjana Munshi. Dr. Preeti Khetarpal, highlighting the event’s role in fostering stronger academia-industry collaborations for sustainable technological advancements. Towards the end, Prof. Yogalakshmi KN, gave formal vote of thanks.