Inauguration of Panjab University-IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations (PI-RAHI) Northern Region S&T Cluster by Principal Scientific Adviser, Govt. of India

Chandigarh October 2, 2024: The Panjab University-IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations Foundation (PI-RAHI), the Northern Region Science & Technology Cluster, was officially inaugurated today by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. PI-RAHI, initiated by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, aims to accelerate innovation and technological development across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh UT.

During the ceremony, Foundation Newsletter of the PI-RAHI r was launched by Prof. Prof. Ajay Sood and Prof. Renu Vij, Chairperson PI-RAHI and Vice Chancellor Panjab University. This inaugural edition highlights the cluster’s efforts in promoting research, entrepreneurship, and collaboration across academia and industry in the Northern region.

A key highlight of the event was awarding the PI-RAHI logo design competition, won by Aditya Deryan, who was awarded Rs. 10,0000 for his spiral design, symbolizing limitless opportunities, reflecting PI-RAHI’s vision of fostering endless innovation.
The ceremony also honored winners of the PI-RAHI Ideathon, held at UIET, Panjab University, encouraging innovative solutions in critical sectors:
•    First Prize: Ananay Agarwal- Awarded ₹5,000 for Crop-Hawk, an AI-powered precision agriculture platform that uses NDVI satellite data and drones to monitor water stress and disease in real time. satellite data and drones to monitor water stress and disease in real time.
•    Second Prize: Kirti- Awarded ₹3,000 for Prosta Can Detect, a rapid, non-lab-based prostate cancer detection kit that promises early diagnosis and reduced unnecessary biopsies.
•    Third Prize: Gaurav Rauthan- Awarded ₹2,000 for Cit Peels Naturals, an eco-friendly home cleaning solution incubated at IIT Ropar and supported by a BIRAC research grant.

Another milestone of the event was the launch of the book “Nobel Stories: Luminaries of Indian Science”, authored by Dr. Rajinder Arora, Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora, Kubil Singh Bhat, and Mandakini Thakur. The book provides a detailed account of Indian-origin scientists who have either won or been nominated for the Nobel Prize, shedding light on their scientific contributions and the challenges they faced.

Distinguished guests, including J.M. Balamurugan, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, Prof. Harsh Nayyar, Director of Research at Panjab University, and PI-RAHI organizers Prof. Rajat Sandhir, Director of PI-RAHI, and Neha Arora, COO of PI-RAHI, were present along with faculty members and stakeholders, contributing to the event's resounding success.