In a significant move towards strengthening academia-industry collaboration, Prof. B. N. Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu visited Saraswati Agrochemicals India Pvt. Ltd. at Bari Brahmana. He was accompanied by Prof. Sanjay Guleria, Dean, Faculty of Basic Sciences. During the visit, Dr. Shailendra Chourey, Plant Head & Director, led a comprehensive tour of the manufacturing plant, providing valuable insights into the agrochemical production process and quality control mechanisms. An interaction meeting was held wherein Shri S. K. Bansal Chairman and Managing Director and senior officials of the company felicitated Prof. Tripathi and deliberated on fostering stronger academia-industry ties. Prof. Tripathi highlighted the pivotal role of industry-funded research in leading global institutions in the USA and Europe and emphasized the potential for implementing similar models in India. He noted that while many industries may lack advanced R&D infrastructure, universities like SKUAST-Jammu can serve as key collaborators in driving innovation and technological advancements. Prof. Tripathi further underscored the significance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for robust industry-academia partnerships. Discussions revolved around facilitating paid internships and pre-placement offers for SKUAST-Jammu students, industry-funded research collaborations, and opportunities for postgraduate research thesis work in collaboration with industry partners. He also elaborated on SKUAST-Jammu’s proactive initiatives, including organizing Industry-Academia Meets, appointing industry experts as Professors of Practice, and establishing the SKUAST-Jammu Industry Consortium to foster long-term partnerships between academia and industry. The visit concluded on a promising note, with both institutions reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation for mutual growth and advancing agricultural sciences and technology.
