Aurangabad, Aug 9 (KNN) Bridging the gap between industry and academia, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH along with industry body MASSIA roped in engineering students and faculties to sort out live problems being faced by industries.

After successful implementation of project last year, this year 72 project themes have been identified which would be taken up by students and faculties of 06 different engineering Colleges of Aurangabad.

The initiative is being supported by 40 local MSMEs in the city.

“When Industries and Academia work in tandem they become a powerful engine for economic growth and innovation. However, various studies show that barring a few examples (pertaining to mostly large companies and Institutes) the Industry & Academia remain largely disconnected in the country. While both Industry and academia are aware of the benefits such collaborations brings, still such partnerships don’t emerge naturally because of various factors” said the organizers.

The identified 72 industrial projects were launched in presence of more than 200 people from Industries and academia in Sh. Shau Maharaj College of Engineering Auditorium in Aurangabad.

Suhas Markendya (Member Secretary of Rajeev Gandhi Science and Technology Commission, Mumbai) was the chief guest of the launching ceremony.

He explained various government schemes to support the industry-academia collaboration and advised all project teams to apply for funding under various schemes run by the Maharashtra Government such as MSME-TIFAC.

Markendya appreciated the role of GIZ in building the Industry-Academia collaboration and requested all industries and colleges to extend their support in this noble cause.

Tasvvar Ali, Technical Expert-Promotion of Innovation in MSMEs, GIZ-Aurangabad, explained the success of last year’s industrial projects done by students and faculty.

Ali further emphasized the benefits of these projects to industries as well as students.

He briefed about the success story of one project which was awarded 03rd best industry project done by academia in IMTAX-2016 and how students got the new opportunities by working on live projects in the industries.

MASSIA President Sunil Kirdak stressed on the need of involving academia on live industries problems in order to develop an innovation eco-system in Aurangabad.

He also emphasized the role of academic institutions to develop the new technologies which can be commercialized and used by industries.

MASSIA is committed to make this initiative sustainable and promised to carry the same program on every year, Kirdak said.

More than 150 students and 75 professors would work on 72 live industries problems in 35 MSMEs for a period of 2.5 months.

On completion of these projects, they would be reviewed by a joint committee from Industries and Academia. Based on final presentation results best 03 projects would be awarded by GIZ and Industries association. (KNN Bureau)