Experts Stress Industry-Institute Collaboration At SOA Conclave In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The need for frequent interaction and exchange of ideas between the industry and institutions for the mutual benefit of both was stressed at Second Industry-Institution Interaction Conclave at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA).

“It is a crying need as research in the institutes should match the needs of the industry and industry experts should share their practical experience with researchers and students on a regular basis,” Dr. Malay Kumar Pradhan, General Manager, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).

“Professors of institutes and universities can work as external consultants to industry and encourage industry experts to do some deep research,” he said. Students should get an opportunity to work on live business cases and provide solutions which could be
implemented.

At the same time, industry should extend sizeable financial support to selected research institutes for undertaking research projects, said Dr. Pradhan.

Government of India’s concept of Vision Zero, the idea of ensuring no accident or incident occurred in any industry, needs collaboration between academia and industry to be successful, he added.

The day-long conclave organised by the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), SOA’s faculty of engineering and technology.

SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof Ashok Kumar Mahapatra chaired the inaugural session. Chairman of SOA’s Advisory Board Prof Damodar Acharya, former Vice-Chancellor and presently Chief Consultant of SOA Prof Rajendra Prasad Mohanty, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Chief Operating Officer of Paradip Phosphates Ltd (PPL) Ranjit Singh Chugh and Dean of ITER Prof. Pradip Kumar Sahoo also spoke.

Around 50 industries from the state representing steel and manufacturing and automobile industries and safety and boiler divisions, participated in the conclave, said Dr SS Mahapatra, convenor of the conclave.