Punjabi University to be part of Ministry of Science and Technology funded ‘Biotech Urjit Cluster’ programme

The varsity will establish two centralised facilities, including process development for the production of microbial products from agro-based materials and an integrated facility for the identification of microbes, plants and animals as part of the research proposal.

Punjabi University has announced that it will be working with eight institutions on a research project worth Rs 232 crore under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India funded ‘Biotech Urjit Cluster’ programme.

The varsity will be establishing two centralised facilities, including process development for production of microbial products from agro-based materials and integrated facility for identification of microbes, plants and animals as part of the research proposal entitled, “Mohali cluster for agro-environment-biotech research and entrepreneurship” (M-CARE).

While speaking on the collaboration, Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Arvind said, “The aim and objective of the programme is to establish ‘university research translational cluster’ in the country to synergise resources between institutions, research laboratories, industries and SMEs for technology and product development and building enterprises.”

“This scheme will complement and enhance the translational and commercialisation potential of inventions and innovations of academic research activities. Each Biotech Urjit Cluster will be anchored at a certain geography or region,” he added.

The nine institutions in the programme, include National Agri-Food Biotech Institute, Mohali, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, Institute of Nano-science Technology, Mohali, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Mohali, Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Punjabi University, Patiala.

Punjabi University had earlier announced that it has decided to increase the tuition and other fees for all the courses that are being offered on the campus and at the external centres by 10 per cent. The fee hike will be implemented for the courses that are offered on the university campus and at the external centres apart from engineering courses at the university and the south campus.

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