The University of Hyderabad (UoH) is gearing to offer consultancy and incubation services to the industry, according to Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile.
“Over the years, we have acquired good capabilities in a few departments. Though we have already been engaged in collaboration with industries, I think we are only utilising about 15 per cent of our potential. Hence, we will be encouraging more joint work and consultancy,” he told Business Line in an interaction here.
Focus areas The focus is on industry-relevant research in physics, chemistry and life sciences apart from humanities. “In electronics, we can support the manufacturing industry in a big way. Synthetic and organic chemistry, life and plant sciences have been our strong areas,” Rao, who is also a plant scientist, said.
A centre of excellence is already functioning in tomato genomics in the central university, ranked number one among the central universities in the country. A biological weed in rice discovered by the university scientists has completed first phase studies.
“We have also made some headway in cancer research and a technology business incubator is already active on our campus,” the new Vice-Chancellor said.
Community radio templates A novel model of community radio templates has been prepared by in-house research teams. In humanities, the Dalit and Adivasi studies and recording and preservation of their culture has been given primacy.
The Vice-Chancellor sees more scope for collaboration with the industry. According to him, industries should think about a grant for collaboration and fund more research projects in universities.
The university is encouraging more patent filing and also thinking of extending its financial support to the faculty members who are keen on taking up socially and industry relevant research projects.
The scientists should also be ready to take up incubation outside with the support of the industry, Rao added. The Vice-Chancellor has also plans to encourage start-ups.
“Over the years, out students and research scholars have grown to very senior positions in various sectors. As we share the same DNA, they can chip in to provide support to promising start up ideas. We are working on fostering better ties between the alumni and the present students,’’ he said.
A new post-graduate course in education will be launched soon to train the trainers.
Vision The ultimate vision of the university is to go global.
“As the number one university in the country, we are not competing with Indian universities any longer. I want to see this university emerge as a top-ranking one globally, at least among the top 200 universities. We plan to achieve this by focus on niche areas, creating better eco-system for research-based learning and highlighting the social face of education,’’ Appa Rao said.