Panjab University Best practices

Panjab University research policy aims to create and support a research culture for developing and promoting research temper and aptitude amongst all the stakeholders i.e., its teachers, staff and students. This helps everyone to realize the vision and the mission of Panjab University making it one of the major stakeholders to contribute to national development and be one of the leading global players in the R & D ecosystem. It also aims at ensuring the research activities of the University are conforming to the established standards and norms relating to safe and ethical conduct of research.

1. Title of the Practice: To create innovation and entrepreneurship through the establishment of a start-up ecosystem: BioNEST at Panjab University.
2. Objectives of the Practice

The incubators developed through RUSA 2.0 as PUIC, a multidisciplinary incubation space and BioNEST, the bio-incubation space through funding from BIRAC are committed to deliver and provide, its incubatees and anchor associations, state-of-the-art infrastructure, technical, administrative, purchase, networking & scientific support. They are also committed to support its occupants, enthuse a young mind, establish an energetic yet comfortable environment that satisfies the needs of the occupants and enable them to meet national and international standards of quality management. To nurture existing and potential start-ups, we introduce PUIC and BioNEST-Panjab University, Chandigarh bringing together multiple platforms, corporate societies, innovators/inventors, industrialists, educationists, incubators, students, investors, angel funders, material suppliers and stakeholders, venture capitalists, state councils, “government people” on one forum, in order to provoke the establishment of not only an innovation chain but an “Innovation Web”. It brings together the start-ups who were the unrecognized elements in the bio incubation ecosystem and are now a part of the ecosystem. Provides support to establish start-ups either as a standalone entity or as a part of the academia. Not only incubation but support through scale and post incubation fund also (https://bionest.puchd.ac.in/).

3. The Context

The University is promoting and encouraging the youngsters to innovate for the new India- the Atma-Nirbhar Bharat! The primary emphasis is on bringing together different verticals of research for a multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship keeping in view the ever- dynamic global scenario. This is being achieved through pre-incubation spaces which provide a platform to the youth with an opportunity for spreading their wings in entrepreneurial ventures. Innovators so selected receive support in the form of fellowships, pre-incubation facilities, mentoring support and possible liaison with the industry. Connecting the next in the chain is the incubation space or the incubator which is built to foster and promote entrepreneurial ecosystem in the academic system by creating technology & capacity infrastructure around the potential entrepreneurs.

4. The Practice

To promote and nurture the culture of design and innovation in the area of smart engineering and technologies. It is to develop hands-on skills and vision among faculty and students, to fabricate and carry out research for making creative prototypes of functionally valuable products and for nurturing entrepreneurial talents in students. We provide an ecosystem encompassing various stages from catalyzing creative problem-solving ideas, to developing prototypes at different technology-readiness levels to promoting and training teams to establish start-ups and enter into partnerships with industry. We are mandated to become self-sustainable Centre of excellence to attract industry and students.

Strategy

The intended PIQ FAIR strategy can help fostering a new research climate in the university. In the strategy, the three central pillars (PIQ) are

1. To support and develop people involved in research,
2. To have an impact, which crosses academic boundaries and yields economic, social and cultural benefits to the society at large, and
3. To aim for quality-oriented research

Supporting these central areas, there are four enabling areas (FAIR) of action as follows:

1. Providing focus and capitalizing on our physical and intellectual capital through interdisciplinary capabilities,
2. Ensuring alignmentof research-oriented actions at all levels of the University.
3. Infusing and ensuring highest standards of research integrity, and
4. Providing the optimum financial, physical and knowledge resources

Each of these aspects will be in consonance with University mission and vision, with realistic evaluation of where university is and hence a rationale for change, thereby presenting actions points to be undertaken. The research strategy will be implemented against a series of key indicators and targets which will be set out in an implementation plan, developed in conjunction with the stakeholders: faculty, students, societal leaders and industry.

5. Evidence of Success

Complete technology building platform with state of the art laboratories has been established and has resulted in tangibles. There are 26 + start-ups/ Innovators incubated at Incubation Centre. Some has reached above TRL 4-5 and 2 start-ups have passed TRL-9. Five products have been successfully launched and 2 start-ups have received fund for validation & scale-up. 10 start-ups have received funding through BIG/ BIG like grants, 20-50 Lakhs each for developing POC’s. We have 4 BIG awardees and 5 SAEN awardees. Intellectual property has been protected through over 10 patents in a period of last five years. Start-ups incubated with us have received national/ international recognitions through national awards and international visits & trainings. Under the pre-incubation scheme three teams of under-graduate students and three Post –docs have been selected and funded. This also acts as a pipeline of incubates in the system. A large amount of funding from industry for collaborative Research & Development for Proof-of-concept (POC), Post-POC & scale-up studies & certain joint initiatives in the areas of Bioprocess engineering, Biopharmaceuticals with core focus on vaccine under healthcare segments has been taken. Under the RUSA incubator 13 innovative ideas have been funded and four pre-incubation centres in different areas of Science have been established.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required.

Space for hot desking, soft landing and wet laboratories for which all the positive efforts are being made and will soon worked out.

1. Title of Practice: Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility/Central Instrumentation Laboratory

Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility/Central Instrumentation Laboratory is providing Analytical services to researchers and industry throughout the country. This is one of the best centres among 16 SAIF centres created by DST, GoI. It analyse more than 25000 samples serving more than 6000 users pan India. Not only the academic users put this centre on their priority list but Industrial users also prefer to get their samples analysed from this centre as utmost care is taken in analysing the samples to the full satisfaction of users. Another unique point of service is timely results of analysis.

The Centre houses 25 Sophisticated Instruments which include MALDI SYNAPT XS HD Mass Spectrometer, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Elemental Analyser for CHN, FT-NMR Spectrometer 400 MHz and 500 MHz, X-ray Diffractometer, LC-MS Spectrometer, Liquid Nitrogen Plant Stirling (StirLIN-1), FT-Infra-Red Spectrophotometer, UV-VIS-NIR Spectrophotometer, WD-XRF Spectrometer. GC-Mass Spectrometer, HR-Transmission Electron Microscope, FE-Scanning Electron Microscope, Thermo Gravimetric Analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Small Angle x-ray Scattering.

2. Objectives of the Practice

The objective of best practice is to provide finest analytical services to the researchers and industry so that they may compete with the researchers at world level by undertaking front line research. The highly technical trained manpower is the back bone of this service. The expert staff analyses the samples as per the requirements of researchers and provide the results in shortest time span. Due to accurate and timely results the users prefer to get their samples analysed from this centre only. This is only due to our best practice that we are analysing more than 25000 samples from more than 5000 users pan India. The centre regularly obtains the feedback of user and incorporate the relevant changes required in the procedure. All the services are online. Payment, billing and sending of result is in digital mode which makes the service more user-friendly and efficient.

3. The Context

SAIF Panjab University Chandigarh was incepted in the earlier years of the 6th plan. The complete facilities of SAIF/CIL and USIC are working in unison in the service of research and also for imparting practical training to the researchers through workshops. The Centre also undertakes the design, fabrication and repair of electronic instruments required by students and teachers from the University and the colleges around.

The major challenge in implementing the best practices was to mobilise the funds for highly sophisticated instruments and then train the manpower to get accurate results out of these highly advanced instruments. As far as mobilisation of funds is required, the DST is providing liberal grant for past several years due to our outstanding performance among all the SAIF centres of Country. To address the issue of trained manpower, the department started hiring the manpower from own earnings and also conducting two Post Graduate courses i.e. M.Tech. (Instrumentation) and MSc (Instrumentation). These courses provide special training on analytical instrumentation and very helpful in supplying highly specialized trained manpower not only to centre but other research institutes of the country. Further, the department earns enough income to maintain the instruments, procurement of consumables and hiring the trained manpower.

4. The Practice

The facilities of this Centre go a long way in improving the quality of research being carried out in the Research Institutes and Universities in entire region comprising the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Utter Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Delhi Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odesa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Southern parts of the country. The Academic researchers report around 300 quality research publications and patents every year. The instrumentation facility is also made available to the industries. The outside users are increasing with each passing year. This is due to fact that we provide excellent service to our valuable users. This Centre also caters the service to R&D and industries like Morepen Lab Ltd., Panacea Biotech, Nectar Life Sciences and Saurav Chemicals, Ind Swift Lab, Venus Remedies Adley Lab, Biozenta Life science, Fermenta Biotech, Samson Laboratories, Acme Generics, Oniosome Healthcare, etc. Although there are lots of analytical facilities throughout the country but researchers prefer to come to SAIF, PU Chandigarh due to fact that the department not only provides results but also helps users to interpret these results. Interpretation of results and helping users to reach a scientific conclusion of their work is one of the unique features of this centre. This is one of the reasons that researchers prefer to get their samples analysed from SAIF PU Chandigarh.

The department conducted 55 short term training programs from 2018-19 to 2021-22. Looking at the outcome of these courses the DST awarded the centre with a prestigious GoI program “Synergistic Training program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure” (STUTI). Under this program the department carried out 16 awareness programs imparting training to 1686 students. Further, department organised 22 training programs of 7 day duration each imparting training to more than 800 researchers and faculty covering almost all the states of country.

5. Evidence of Success

The centre has emerged as a major analytical facility in the country. This is evident from the fact that the DST has established 16 such SAIF centres in the country which are located in India’s most prestigious institutes such as IISC Bangalore, CDRI Lucknow, AIIMS, New Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay and other such institutes. SAIF, Panjab University Chandigarh has emerged as the topmost institute in all the SAIF institutes of country as far as number of samples analysed is concerned.

The table showing the number of samples, users and revenue earned in last 4 years is as below:

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required.

To implement the best practice the major problem encountered is resources of funds and highly trained manpower. We have overcome both the major challenges and have successfully implemented the best practices. One of the issues of concern was online website hosted by DST New Delhi. Now department is shifting the online site to Panjab University server so that the system works more smoothly. The services are being improved continuously with the feedback of various stakeholders.

• Best Practices 2021-22
• Best Practices 2020-21
• Best Practices 2019-20
• Best Practices 2018-19
• Best Practices 2017-18
• Best Practices 2016-17
• Best Practices 2015-16