IMTECH signs MoU with Punjab govt to accelerate innovation in health & environment R&D

Chandigarh: CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) on 13th September signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Government of Punjab (DSTE-GoP), Chandigarh to jointly address the issues pertaining to public health and environment under Mission Tandrust Punjab 2.0 and work together to make Punjab a Research & Innovation Hub under Mission Innovate Punjab.

Mission Tandrust was launched by the Governor of Punjab last year to make Punjab the healthiest State by improving parameters on air quality, water quality, safe food and a good living environment.

Under the MoU, both organizations will strive to promote Research and Innovation ecosystem in Punjab to enhance competitiveness, boost economic growth and create quality jobs. DSTE-GoP and IMTECH have jointly identified several areas in monitoring and analysis of water quality and conducting technical studies on diseases linked with water pollution in the state.

The event was presided over by Mr R.K. Verma (IAS), Principal Secretary, Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. of Punjab, Dr Manoj Raje, Director, IMTECH and other senior officials from both the sides. This collaboration will focus to undertake state specific collaborative projects on new, innovative and cost effective biosensor and microbial technology based techniques for monitoring and improvement of water quality including bioremediation.

Mr R K Verma emphasized that this collaboration resonates with Punjab Government’s Mission Tandrust 2.0 which strives to create conditions for healthy living through improved a public health and green environment.

Apart from research and innovation support, IMTECH shall also help DSTE-GoP through its Big Data computational capacity for analysis and forecasting of crop diseases like Rice blast etc. and extend State-of-the-Art infrastructure as well as the proposed Skill Development Centre for the benefit of life science industries and start-ups based out of Punjab.

Speaking at the occasion Mr R K Verma, Principal Secretary, DSTE-GoP said “It’s a great day for both the organizations and Punjab Government is really excited with this collaboration with IMTECH. IMTECH shall also help us in promoting innovation ecosystem in the state by providing mentorship, guidance and support to start ups which is the need of the hour.”

It is imperative to state that IMTECH very soon is coming up with a High End Skill Development Centre in Chandigarh in public-private partnership mode to accelerate healthcare research and train students & researchers in latest life science technologies and make them industry ready.

Dr Manoj Raje, Director, CSIR-IMTECH said “We want this MOU to be successful in letter and spirit. Therefore as a first step we along with Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) are submitting a joint proposal to UK Research Innovation on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) which is a big health threat in Punjab.”