INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Introduction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Education, Innovation, incubation and industry are closely interrelated. Investing in education, innovation, industry, and infrastructure is the primary duty of an institution to sustainable development and empowering the citizens. The idea generation and incubation process are done with social responsibility and will always lead to the improvement quality of life of the communities. Providing the platform for idea generation, creating a room for incubation to innovate and lead the students, faculty and researchers to industry collaboration is soon becoming a primary duty of Universities.

The Universities must provide a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for the students and faculty. The products the Universities produce must contribute to the development of a healthy and continual society.

Infrastructural support for Innovation at Nitte DU:
i. Atal Incubation Centre
ii. Nitte University Technology Enabling Centre
iii. Institution Innovation Council (IIC)

It provides a three-platform approach for potential entrepreneurs on and off campus. Nitte (Deemed to be University) is one of the higher education institutions that has launched the Institution Innovation Council (IIC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Government of


ecosystem that will foster the culture of innovation across all the constituent colleges of Nitte DU, from generating ideas, to pre- incubation, incubation and graduating from the incubator as successful start-ups. IIC supports and inspires students to convert their ideas to improve the quality of life and also to support affordable healthcare as envisaged by the Government of India.

ATAL INCUBATION CENTRE (AIC)

The NITTE DU in association with National Institution for Transforming India, Government of India has set up Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) in the year 2020 at the Nitte, Karkala campus. This centre has been set up with the vision of encouraging and supporting young entrepreneurs around the region in the areas of agriculture, biotechnology and ITCs. The incubation centre provides all round support in transitioning a business idea into a commercial start up. AIC NITTE provides incubation and mentorship support with financial and infrastructural assistance.

HIGHLIGHTS

33 Incubates, 20 Reputed Mentors, 23 Residential facilities, 20 Events, Intellectual property rights, Digital marketing, Gaining financial assistance

• Nitte University Technology Enabling Centre:

Nitte University Technology Enabling Centre (DST NU-TEC) is one among the 10 centres established at the national level under the support of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India to promote and support the transition of bench work research to technology. The focus is on recognising the socio- economic needs and developing or innovating technology to ensure sustainable economic growth of the country. DST NU-TEC is working towards establishing a network of researchers, practitioners and market makers to develop a collaborative community

HIGHLIGHTS

211 equipments, 32 activities, 16 services, 48 committee members

International linkages: UNESCO-MIRCEN, FAO, WHO

Renowned academic/webinar partners: Society for Innovation and Enterprise (SINE), IIT Mumbai University of Illinois, Chicago, University of Washington, Seattle, Radboud University, Nijmengen, The Netherlands

Industry Partners / collaborators / clients: Tata Coffee Ltd. Kodagu, Gadre Marine Export Pvt. Ltd. Ratnagiri, AquaAgri Processing Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, CAMPCO, Puttur, Salem Microbes Pvt. Ltd. Salem, Karnataka Milk Federation Ltd. Kulsheka, Aquatic Biosystems, Vamanjoor, Mangalore Biotech Lab, Mangaluru, Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mangaluru, Aquaponics, Kodagu, Bengaluru, Blue sea Aqua, Mangalore.

NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences is a member of Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KDPMA) which is an association of over 100 pharmaceutical companies.

Nitte DU is also having active collaborations with GSK, Medorganics, Mangalore,Triveni Nursing Home, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Omgene Life Sciences Pvt Ltd. Vadodara, Gujarat, Tarushi Formulations, Patan, Gujarat,Sahasraksha Vaidya Shala, Kasaragod, Kerala and Atrimed Biotech LLP, Bangalore

NITTE DU RESEARCH AND INNOVATION:

Infrastructure grant:
DST-TEC division has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 25,00,000 to Nitte DU to develop infrastructure for innovation and technology transfer.

Extramural funding:

• Dr Praveen Kumar Shetty, Director, Research, Nitte DU has a collaborative project with the DRDO to test a an Anti- Leucoderma Product Developed by DIBER (DRDO) “Study on Melanocytes and Epidermal stem cells stimulation potential of Anti- Leucoderma” An amount of Rs.8,85,000 is sanctioned by the funding agency, DRDO, GoI.
• Dr Praveen Rai, Associate Professor, NUCSER is working on DST funded project Development of immunofluorescent nanodiagnostic assay as a point-of-care detection of dengue virus. An amount of Rs. 21,86,834 is sanctioned.
• Dr Gunimala Chakraborty is developing a novel method of Liquid Biopsy for detection of Lung Cancer Development of LAMP assays using cell free DNA for screening of gene mutations that interfere with response to TKIs in patients. An amount of 40,63,000is sanctioned by ICMR to support the study.
• Dr. Smitha Hegde, Deputy Director NUCSER is funded by VGST, GoK for establishing a Center for developing sustainable technologies for Mitigating heavy metal pollution under changing environment. An amount of Rs. 25,00,000 is sanctioned towards the same.
• Dr. Suchetha Kumari N, Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, KSHEMA, is awarded a DIBER-DRDO project of Rs. 9,67,600 for Development of Ganoderma Lucidum based Radio-Protective & Health Support Products.
• Dr.Suchetha Kumari N, Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, KSHEMA is awarded a funding of Rs.3,52,000 from INMAS-DRDO, GoI for Establishment of Biodosimetry laboratory at K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University) Mangalore and Networking with INMAS.
• Dr Damodara Gowda, KSHEMA, is developing A novel dietary approach for foetal programming of major chronic disorders in adult life using Albino Wistar Rats. ICMR has awarded Rs. 23,10,252 funding for the same.
• Dr Mitra N Hegde, ABSMIDS, is funded by Dabur India, Rs. 16,80,000 for a study on Saliva as biomarker to study the effect and antioxidant potential of medicated toothpaste in oral cavity.
• Dr Mamatha BS, NUCSER is innovating on Nano formulation of lutein to improve bioavailability in prevention of Age-related macular degeneration, supported and funded with a grant of Rs. 2427752, by ICMR
• Dr Anupama Karanth, a Post doc fellow at NUCSER was awarded Rs. 5,07,200 by the ICMR to develop a novel method of Rapid DNA based Diagnostic test for Vibrio Parahaemolyticus associated diarrhoea.
• Dr Lekha Pandit, Professor, Department of Neurology, KSHEMA, was awarded Rs.40,93,000 by the BIRAC for Development of a cost effective cell based assay for the diagnosis of Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorders in India

Dr Sneha Priya, NGSMIPS was sanctioned an amount of Rs. 5,00,000 for Development and evolution of nano-particulate transdermal formulation of an anti-Alzheimer’s drug by the funding agency of VGST, GoK

Dr Murali, NGSMIPS was sanctioned Rs. 2,46,250 in the capacity of Co-PI by BIRAC to develop adjunct anti-venom therapy for snake venom from the pharmaceuticals obtained from Coix lacryma Jobi root extract.

Dr. Mamatha BS, NUCSER was awarded an amount of Rs. 23,31,000 by ICMR for Preparation of fish protein hydrolysate having bioactive properties and its use in food.

Dr. Sudarshan Kini, NUCSER was awarded Rs. 36,13,764 by DST-SERB for developing A novel rapid sensitive soprinosin resonance energy transfer technique for selective detection and quantification of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Rapid detection of COVID 19 infection: A team of scientists from NUCSER including Dr. Biswajit Maiti, Dr. Praveen Rai, Dr. Anupama Karanth, Dr. Krishna Kumar B have developed unique primers for rapid detection test for SARSCoV2 using loop mediated isothermal amplification. This provides a rapid method of diagnosis of SARCoV2 infection helping in early initiation of treatment. A patent is filed for this technology development and is under consideration for grant.

PATENTS FILED

• Maiti, B., Rai, P., Anupama, K.P. Unique molecular primers to detect SARS- CoV-2 by polymerase spiral reaction assay. Application number: Temp/E-1/31372/2021-CHE. Filed on: 22/06/2021.
• Maiti, B., Rai, P., Anupama, K.P., Kumar, B.K. Unique primers for rapid detection test for SARS- CoV-2 using loop-mediated isothermal amplification. Application number: Temp/E- 1/31373/2021-CHE. Filed on: 22/06/2021
• Sanitizer preparation in NGSMIPS in the fight against COVID – 19:
• The staff of NGSMIPS prepared 1,000 litres of hand sanitizers for the University and its constituent colleges. The preparation was done in the Pharmaceutics laboratory complying with the WHO guidelines under the supervision of the departmental staff. Dr.C.S. Shastry, the Principal, initiated the noble cause which was well supported by his team. The members of the team are Dr. Akhilesh Dubey, Dr. Sriniva Hebbar, Mr. Anish John, Dr.Anoop Narayanan V, Dr. Amitha Shetty, Dr. R. Narayana Charyulu, Dr. Sandeep D.S.
• Nitte Innovation Challenge 2020, an ideation for students of the constituent colleges of Nitte DU was conducted during December 2020.
• An International Conference on Advances in Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences (ICAPHS 2020) was organized for the faculty, staff and students of Nitte DU and other institutions on 27th Feb 2020. 700 participants were present on the occasion.
• A Workshop on 3D printing in Dentistry was organised for 150 students, faculty and staff members of ABSMIDS on 3rd March 2020.
• A Webinar on “Research & Development and IPR during COVID-19 Pandemic” was conducted by Dr. T.S. Rao, DBT, Dr Sharana Gowda, Patent Office, Chennai on 26th May 2020. Students, Staff of Nitte DU and other educational institutes and public of Mangalore participated.
• NGSMIPS organized the International Virtual Conference on “Opportunities and Challenges in Pre-Clinical Drug Discovery’’ on 4th July 2020. Dr. Noel J De Souza, Consultant, Independent Pharma Drug Discovery & Development, Inventor of FORSKOLIN and ALVOCIDIB. Dr. Srini V. Kaveri, Director INSERM Paris. Dr. Dave Lewis, Higher Education Academy, National Teaching Fellow School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, UK. Dr. SP Muthukumar, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR- CFTRI, Mysuru. 1,600 participants registered for this conference.
• DST-NUTEC Webinar on Research requirements of the Food industry was conducted on July 24th, 2020. Sri. Giridhar Prabhu, Achal Industries, Dr. Radhika Jagadish, Maiyas Beverages and Foods, Sri Girish, Megha Fruit Processing, Dr. Pradeep Kenjiage, Café coffee Day, Dr. Harish Kinkodi Ace food, Dr. U.V. Babu, Himalaya Drug Company were present.
• A Webinar on New Products and Applications in Hard Capsules was conducted by NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in association with ACG Capsules, Mumbai organized a webinar on New Products and Applications in Hard Capsules on 17th July 2020.
• A Webinar on “From research to patent: What young researchers should know” Department of pharmaceutics was organised by NGSMIPS on 22nd Dec 2020. Students and faculty of Nitte DU participated.
• A Virtual Lecture Series on “An Industrial Perspective on Natural Product Research: From Plant to Product” was organised on 19th Dec 26th Dec 2020. Mr. Rojison Koshy, Natural Remedies, Bangalore, Dr. Neeraj Kumar, Almora Botanica, Bangalore, Dr. M. Vijay Kumar, The Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore participated.