Vice-President inaugurates upgraded advanced instrumentation facility, PU Technology Innovation Forum; calls for inclusive, affordable and scalable innovations
CHANDIGARH: Research institutions must move beyond generating data and focus on solving real-world problems, creating social impact and developing affordable and scalable solutions, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan said on Friday during his maiden visit to Panjab University as its Chancellor.
Addressing researchers and innovators at the university, Radhakrishnan said the success of research should ultimately be measured by its contribution to society.
“Whatever research we do, unless the research makes an impact on society, the success of the result will be within the four compounds of our university only,” he said, urging researchers to ensure that their findings address wider societal needs.
The Vice-President was in Chandigarh to inaugurate the upgraded advanced instrumentation facility at the Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility/Central Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIF/CIL). He also inaugurated the Panjab University Technology Innovation Forum (PU TIF), formerly known as BioNEST, which provides an integrated platform covering pre-incubation, incubation and post-incubation activities.
Radhakrishnan said science and technology must remain closely connected with purpose and urged researchers to ask relevant questions rather than use technology merely to generate more data.
“We should use science and technology to ask relevant questions and solve real problems facing society,” he said.
‘Failure is part of research’
Calling upon students and researchers not to be discouraged by setbacks, the Vice-President said failure was an integral part of scientific inquiry.
“The first thing we have to learn in research is that we should fail. We should fail so that we know where we went wrong,” he said, adding that setbacks should strengthen rather than diminish the mental resilience of researchers.
He also called for innovations to be inclusive and capable of being taken beyond laboratories and campuses.
“Make our innovations inclusive. Our solutions must be scalable and affordable. They must address the real needs and respond to the demands of society and the industry,” he said.
Radhakrishnan linked the research agenda with the country’s development priorities, saying that as India works towards the goals of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, researchers should increasingly focus on national priorities.
Call to students to stay away from drugs
In an appeal directed at students, the Vice-President urged them to stay away from drugs and substance abuse.
“Your health, your future, and your dreams are precious, so always say no to drugs,” he said, calling for efforts towards building a “nasha mukt Bharat”.
Referring to Punjab’s geographical location, he said the issue required particular attention in the region.
“We should not give them space,” he said, referring to attempts by forces across the border to promote substance abuse.
PU urged to aim for global top 100
Radhakrishnan also praised Panjab University for its academic legacy and its position in the 35th rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), but said the institution should now aim for a place among the world’s top 100 universities.
The Vice-President described the university’s 143-year history as a rich legacy that needed to be preserved while taking the institution towards global excellence.
“By making this university a world-class university, the pride of Punjab and the pride of the nation, both will be re-established,” he said.
He recalled the impact of Partition on the university, noting that a substantial part of Panjab University was left in Pakistan after 1947.
The university, he said, had produced Prime Ministers, Ministers, judges, Governors, MPs, sportspersons, scientists and economists, reflecting its contribution to public life and national development.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari were also present at the event.
