National workshop on design component under MSME innovative scheme begins in Srinagar

Need to overcome gap between industry and academia: Dir NIT Srinagar

Srinagar, Mar 13: The two day national workshop on Design Component under MSME innovative scheme in collaboration with Innovation began Monday at SKICC Srinagar. During the function speakers vowed to overcome the gap between industry and academia in the region.

The workshop is being jointly organized by Branch Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) DFO Srinagar Kashmir in association with Incubation & Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IIEDC) National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar.

The inaugural function of the event was presided over by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Sehgal, Director General EDI, Director, Ajaz Ahamed Bhatt, IAS, Director Handicraft & Handloom, Mr. Mehmood Ahmad Shah, JKAS were ‘Guest of Honor’ on the occasion.

The other dignitaries include Registrar NIT Srinagar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari, Asst. Director, Head IIEDC, Dr. Saad Parvez,Br. MSME DFO, Srinagar Saheel Alaqband IEDS, President Industrial Estate, Syed Afaq Qadri, PHDCCI Kashmir Vicky Shaw and Dr. Dinesh Kumar R., Program Coordinator MSME Design Scheme.

Director NIT Srinagar, Dr. Rakesh Sehgal said that there is a need to overcome the gap between industry and academia by fostering stronger partnerships and collaborations.

“Collaborations will lead development of new products, technologies, and services that can drive economic growth and benefit society as a whole. The relationship between academia and industry is important for driving innovation and economic growth,” he said.

Prof. Segal said organizing such workshops are critical for generating new knowledge, building new infrastructure, and educating innovators and entrepreneurs.

In his presidential address, Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said youth should become job creators rather than job seekers. There is a need for determination, not money, to become successful game changers in society, he said.

“Despite being one of largest apple producers in the country, we have not been able to set up an apple processing plant in Kashmir,” Prof. Bukhari said, adding that NIT Srinagar will continue to provide support for young innovators in the region.

Prof. Bukhari said NIT Srinagar is the implementing agency of MSME Innovative Scheme and the institute has received various projects over the past several years. People can come and use the infrastructure of NIT Srinagar and make things easy for common people, he said.

Director, Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS) said that they are aimed to create a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem in J&K. We are offering a number of schemes to empower youth and are ready to offer any support, he said.

“Academic researchers can share their expertise and knowledge with industry partners, while industry partners can provide real-world problems and challenges that can inform academic research,” Director EDI said.

Director, Handloom and Handicrafts, Mehmood Ahmad Shah said that the handicrafts sector is among the oldest industries of Kashmir. We have around 3.30 lakh artisan’s associated with the department and provide direct and indirect employment to hundreds of people in the region, he said.

On the occasion, Saheel Alaqband IEDS (Branch MSME DFO, Srinagar) said that the era of money and fuel has changed now it is time for data and innovations.

“Even we don’t have data available within the MSME itself, so once there is no data, there is no development, documentation. Due to these things one cannot find loopholes in the enterprises. It is not easy to document everything, but it is a vital part for overall development,” he said.

Mr. Alaqband said the scheme will provide financial assistance to MSMEs for engagement of design consultants for design interventions and expenses pertaining to development of prototype or product.

Head IIEDC, Dr. Saad Parvez said that the scheme helps MSMEs realize and achieve their design-related objectives. NIT Srinagar will serve as a connecting link between the MSMEs and Government in developing a work plan to attain objectives of the scheme, he said.

“We will help the MSMEs in identifying their design problems in their products and will provide expert advice and cost-effective solutions. We will receive Design Project applications from individuals or groups of MSMEs through the MIS portal,” Prof. Saad said.

President Industrial Estate, Syed Afaq Qadri, PHDCCI Kashmir Vicky Shaw also shared their experience with the participants and hoped that the workshop will prove beneficial for the participants.

The inaugural session was followed by a technical session hosted by Paul Sandeep, Industrial Designer, Pune on ‘How to make innovative products’. Second lecture on ‘Role of Design in starting a Toy business’ by Ms. Suhasini , Toy Designer, Pune.

Presentation on Design Components under MSME Innovative Scheme, Other Schemes of Ministry of MSME was presented by Shri Saheel Alaqband IEDS, Asst.Director, Br. MSME DFO, Srinagar. Prof. Arshad Noor Siddiquee, Jamia Millia Islamia delivered a lecture on ‘Harnessing Design Thinking : Manufacturing and Assembly.

A formal vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Noor Zaman Khan, Incubation Incharge, IIEDC to Chief Guest Director NIT Srinagar Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Sehgal Director General EDI, Director, Ajaz Ahamed Bhatt, IAS, Director Handicraft & Handloom, Mr. Mehmood Ahmad Shah, JKAS and Registrar NIT Srinagar Prof. Bukhari for their presence in the workshop.