New Delhi, Jan 10: Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Wednesday met with Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space. The discussions centred on StartUp collaborations and academic projects supported by the Department of Biotechnology and the Ministry of Science & Technology.
Accompanied by Prof Satish Chandra Garkoti (Rector) and Prof Supriya Chakraborty (Dean, School of Life Sciences), the Vice Chancellor and her delegation explored potential areas of research, emphasizing Plant Genomics and Life Sciences. Prof Pandit updated Dr Jitendra Singh on recent advancements in the University, infrastructure development, and JNU’s contribution to job creation.
The meeting delved into ongoing societal development projects supported by the Department of Biotechnology under the ‘Boost to University Interdisciplinary Life Science Departments for Education and Research’ (DBT-BUILDER) program. The delegation highlighted the Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility (AIRF) and its 25 state-of-the-art instruments, catering to interdisciplinary research applications.
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed the importance of an integrated approach among academia, StartUps, and industry. He commended India’s growth as a knowledge-based economy and highlighted the innovation and technological advancements achieved. Dr Singh underscored the ‘Whole of Science’ approach initiated by the Department of Science & Technology, focusing on infrastructure development and job creation.
Emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Dr Singh encouraged collaboration in launching StartUps, particularly in Aroma Mission and Agriculture, leveraging the support from DBT’s BIRAC PPP model. He cited the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) and the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) as catalysts for enhancing the StartUp ecosystem and creating new opportunities for students and youth in India.
Prof. Pandit mentioned JNU’s implementation of NEP 2020 in its M.Sc program and the success of the B. Tech (Computer Science) program. She highlighted the University’s provision of subject lectures to IIT Delhi students and its commitment to providing educational resources to other institutions. Prof. Pandit also sought Dr Jitendra Singh’s support in granting JNU the status of an Institution of Eminence. JNU recently adopted the motto ‘Tamso Maa Jyotirgamaya,’ focusing on new avenues of learning and youth employment generation.
