Sustainable Nitte

INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Nitte (Deemed to be University) places strong emphasis on strengthening industry linkages, fostering innovation, and building resilient infrastructure as integral components of sustainable development. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 9, the University has strategically invested in research capacity building, technology transfer, incubation, and industry-academia collaboration. Through interdisciplinary research ecosystems, incubation platforms, and national and international partnerships, Nitte University actively translates academic knowledge into real-world solutions that address societal, industrial, and environmental challenges.

1. Department of Science & Technology – Nitte University Technology Enabling Centre (DST NU-TEC)

Nitte (Deemed to be University) has established the DST–Nitte University Technology Enabling Centre (DST NU-TEC) with funding support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. NU-TEC is one among only ten such centres in the country, underscoring its national significance. (https://dstnutec.in/)

Located at the Paneer Campus, Mangalore, NU-TEC functions as a central hub for innovation-driven research, technology development, and industry collaboration. The Centre supports multidisciplinary translational research and actively bridges the gap between academic research and industrial application.



Key Highlights:
• 48 dedicated members
• 181+ capacity-building and innovation-oriented programs
• 16 specialized technical services
• 211 advanced equipment facilities
• ~50 industry collaborators across India
• International linkages with USCO-MIREN, FAO, and WHO

NU-TEC focuses on identifying regional technological needs, fostering entrepreneurship, refining innovations, and supporting commercialization through collaborations with industries, incubators, and research institutions.

Impact Indicators:
• Technologies available for transfer (2025): 27
• Start-ups initiated (2024): 4

Through NU-TEC, the University contributes meaningfully to socio-economic development by promoting sustainable technologies and innovation aligned with national development priorities.

2. FAO Reference Centre on Antimicrobial Resistance and Aquaculture

Nitte (Deemed to be University) has been designated as an FAO Reference Centre on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Aquaculture by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The designation was formally communicated on 25 October 2022 by the FAO Deputy Director General, Ms. Maria Helena Semedo.

Nitte University is one of only three such centres globally, alongside:

• Mississippi State University, USA
• Yellow Sea Fisheries Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China

As an FAO Reference Centre, Nitte University collaborates with FAO in four core areas, including:

• Supporting awareness creation on antimicrobial resistance among One Health stakeholders

Additionally, the University is collaborating with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) to develop a One Health approach for controlling AMR across humans, animals, and aquatic environments in India, China, and Norway.

Project Objectives:
• Establish a One Health consortium involving environmental, animal (terrestrial and aquatic), and human health experts
• Identify knowledge gaps and infrastructure needs related to AMR control
• Organize international workshops and strategic planning meetings
• Develop comprehensive project proposals for AMR mitigation across participating countries







3. Atal Incubation Centre – Nitte (AIC Nitte) Igniting Ideas, Empowering Innovation

Atal Incubation Centre – Nitte (AIC Nitte) is a Section 8 not-for-profit company, jointly promoted by Nitte Education Trust and NITI Aayog under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). AIC Nitte aims to build a high-impact entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures innovation-led, sustainable ventures.The Centre provides end-to-end support to start-ups, including mentorship, infrastructure, funding access, product development, and market linkage.

Infrastructure:
• 20,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility
• Co-working spaces, training rooms, conferencing facilities
• Sector-specific labs in Healthcare, Agriculture, Biotechnology, and IT




Key Services:
• Structured 52-week incubation programs
• Financial assistance through schemes such as Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme

  - ₹470+ lakhs disbursed

  - ₹735+ lakhs raised by incubated start-ups

• Mentorship across strategy, technology, funding, legal, HR, and operations
• Market access through 20+ corporate partners
• Product development labs including soil testing, IT, biochemistry, material testing, fabrication, and Bloomberg finance labs
• Fully supported office infrastructure with 24×7 access



Recognition:

• Awarded “Best QA Incubator of the Year – 2021” at the World Quality Summit by Asia Inc. 500

Impact Metrics:
• Ideas pre-incubated: 200+
• Start-ups incubated: 96+
• Funds raised: ₹735+ lakhs
• Jobs created: 260+
• Partners: 35+
• Events conducted: 75+
• Mentors engaged: 49+
• Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): 10+
4. Fab Lab and Biotechnology Laboratory

AIC Nitte has established a Biotechnology Laboratory with funding support from NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology, NMAM Institute of Technology. The facility supports innovation, prototyping, and translational research in biotechnology.

The Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) at AIC Nitte is designed to promote hands-on innovation by providing access to advanced digital fabrication tools and materials. It supports students, entrepreneurs, researchers, artists, and small businesses in developing low-cost prototypes efficiently.

Since inception:
• Students enrolled: 1,367
• Projects completed: 79
• Workshops conducted: 11
• Internships completed: 6+



Biotechnology Fab Lab inauguration



5. Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC)

The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) at Nitte (Deemed to be University) was established in November 2020 under the guidance of the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), Government of India. The initiative aims to systematically foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within higher education institutions.

The IIC at Nitte DU comprises senior academic leaders and distinguished industry professionals, ensuring strong academic-industry integration. The Council actively promotes innovation through structured activities, student engagement, mentorship, and institutional policy alignment.

Key Initiatives:

• Formation of Student Innovation Clubs across all constituent colleges
• Innovation-related activities including debates, competitions, workshops, hackathons, and industry interactions
• Nomination of faculty as Innovation Ambassadors, NISP Coordinators, and Mentor-Mentee Leads
• Pre-incubation support through AIC Nitte and DST NU-TEC using a hub-and-spoke model



Knowledge Dissemination:

• Biannual innovation newsletter “Avishkara” (6 editions published)
• Active dissemination through social media platforms

The IIC functions as a faculty-led, student-centric body with strong institutional support, enabling ideation, collaboration, and translation of innovations into socially relevant outcomes.

Nitte (Deemed to be University) inaugurated the T K Engineering Co. Ltd. Center of Excellence in 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing on 24th January 2025, marking a significant step toward strengthening innovation-driven education and advanced industrial capabilities. The initiative focuses on fostering cutting-edge infrastructure, technological advancement, and industry–academia collaboration in areas such as additive manufacturing and digital production systems. The Centre of Excellence provides a dynamic platform for research, skill development, and real-world problem solving, enabling students and researchers to engage with emerging manufacturing technologies. By creating opportunities for hands-on learning and innovation, the university supports the development of a skilled workforce, encourages sustainable industrial practices, and contributes to long-term technological progress.

The Aero Club Nitte students have a proud legacy of excellence in SAE INDIA competitions, consistently delivering outstanding results. In 2024, both the SAE DDC and SAE ADDC teams secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 in overall performance, a testament to their dedication and technical prowess. Additionally, the SAE ADDC team earned a commendable 3rd place in the Payload Dropping Mechanism Design category, further cementing their success. Recognizing these exceptional achievements, SAE India invited Aero Club Nitte to showcase their winning models at the prestigious Bharat Mobility Expo in New Delhi from 17th to 22nd January 2025. This recognition underscores the club's innovation and impact in the field of aeromodelling and UAV design

EMERGE 2025, a premier startup lifestyle festival, was held from January 31 to February 2, 2025, at Tannirbhavi Beach in Mangaluru, India, as a part of the Mangalore Beach Festival 2025. Organized by Section Infin-8, a venture studio based in Mangaluru, the event aimed to position the city as the "Silicon Beach of India" by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in a unique beachside setting. DST TEC, Nitte University actively participated in this event by setting up a stall that showcased available technologies like chicken jerky, mutton jerky, spray-dried almond milk powder, a blend of whey with different fruit flavours prepared using spray-drying technology and nutraceuticals from fish waste. Technologies like the automatic shoe storage and delivery system, three-axis tool force measurement system, piezo-actuator inchworm drive and a novel design of micro XY stage for micro-milling machines from NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte, Karkala were displayed at the stall. Poster illustrating insect-repellent formulations using Premna Serratifolia L. developed jointly by KSHEMA Central Research Laboratory (CRL) and the Pharmacy Institute NGSMIPS was displayed at the DST TEC stall as technologies available for transfer. The local business community and chambers of commerce actively participated, exploring how emerging technologies like AI can transform traditional operations.

Fifteen interns from AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences participated in the workshop titled “AI in Dentistry,” featuring lectures and a field visit to the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at Nitte. Organized by Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of ABSMIDS, the event aimed to expose students to the potential of artificial intelligence in dental practice

Nitte (Deemed to be Uiversity) hosted an engaging one-day Faculty Development Program (FDP) on “Structural Equation Modelling & SmartPLS” on 25th October 2025. Around 40 faculty members from different institutions participated in this interactive session aimed at enhancing research skills in management and social sciences. The FDP received great appreciation from participants for its hands-on learning approach and valuable insights that boost research proficiency

JKSHIM organised an expert lecture on "New Product Development" led by Ms. Raksha Shenoy, alumna (2007-09) and founder of NUMMY & WORKNUE.AI on 18th November 2025 at the JKSHIM Auditorium. Ms. Shenoy shared her experiences as an entrepreneur, explaining how to develop products from the initial idea stage to launching them in the market. She discussed understanding customer needs, utilizing smart startup methods and maintaining flexibility in business. Her stories about building NUMMY and WORKNUE.AI gave students a clear picture of the real challenges in product development. Students asked questions and learnt about current industry trends. The session helped connect classroom learning with actual business practices.

Research output aligned with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure at Nitte (Deemed to be University) demonstrates consistent growth and strong impact during the period 2022 to 2025, as evidenced by SciVal data sourced from Scopus.

In the year 2025, 109 scholarly publications pertaining to SDG 9 have been produced. Between 2022 and 2025, the University produced a total of 231 scholarly publications corresponding to SDG 9. Notably, approximately 109 publications were contributed in the year 2025 alone, reflecting a significant increase in research activity and focused alignment with innovation-driven and industry-relevant themes.

The research impact during this period is underscored by a Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) of 2.38, indicating that publications from Nitte University were cited more than twice the global average for similar research worldwide. This highlights both the quality and relevance of the University’s research output.

International engagement forms a strong component of SDG-aligned research, with 79 publications involving international collaboration, reinforcing the University’s commitment to global research partnerships and knowledge exchange.s

The overall visibility and influence of SDG 9 research is further reflected through:

• Total Views Count: 6,930
• Total Citation Count: 1,524