Vice President Inaugurates Advanced Instrumentation Facility and Tech Innovation Forum at Panjab University.
Calls for Collective Efforts to Transform Panjab University into a World-Class Institution; Urges Students to Contribute to a Nasha Mukt Bharat.
Chandigarh:
Vice President of India and Ex-officio Chancellor of Panjab University, C. P. Radhakrishnan, visited Panjab University, Chandigarh, on Friday and inaugurated the Advanced Instrumentation Facility at the Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility/Central Instrumentation Laboratories (SAIF/CIL) and the Panjab University Tech Innovation Forum (PU-TIF).
The two initiatives are aimed at strengthening Panjab University’s ecosystem for academic, applied and translational research by providing advanced analytical, incubation and entrepreneurial support to researchers, innovators and industry.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President recalled the distinguished legacy of Panjab University since its establishment in 1882 and highlighted its contribution to nation-building through generations of leaders, jurists, scientists, sportspersons and public servants.
Radhakrishnan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s higher education and scientific research ecosystem has undergone a transformative change. He noted that India is increasingly emerging as a global destination for quality education, research and innovation.
Describing the inauguration of the two facilities as important milestones, the Vice President said the installation of five advanced scientific instruments — Atomic Force Microscope, Raman Spectrometer, DNA Sequencer, Flow Cytometer and FTIR Spectrometer — would significantly enhance the University’s research capabilities.
He said the new instruments would support research in several important areas, including nanotechnology, materials science, environmental science and genomics, while enabling researchers to undertake advanced scientific investigations within the University.
Focus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Highlighting the importance of innovation, Radhakrishnan said the transformation of Bio-NEST into the Panjab University Tech Innovation Forum (PU-TIF) as a Section 8 not-for-profit company provides a new institutional framework for promoting research, entrepreneurship and technology development.
He emphasised that innovation flourishes when academia, industry, incubators and investors work together. Such collaboration, he said, is essential for converting promising research and ideas into practical solutions and opportunities.
Addressing young researchers, the Vice President urged them to pursue science with purpose and remain resilient in the face of failure. He called upon students and researchers to develop innovations that are inclusive, scalable and capable of addressing real societal challenges.
He stressed that research should have a meaningful impact on society and urged researchers to pursue work in the right direction so that the benefits of scientific advancement reach society at large.
Campus Safety Must Remain Top Priority
The Vice President also raised the issue of campus safety following the unfortunate death of a Ph.D. student. He said he had immediately directed the University authorities to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of the entire campus.
According to him, an internal committee has been constituted to review the existing safety infrastructure and submit a detailed report. He stressed that the safety and well-being of students and staff must remain the University’s highest priority.
Call for Nasha Mukt Bharat
Radhakrishnan also appealed to students to contribute towards building a “Nasha Mukt Bharat”. He urged young people to stay away from substance abuse and encourage their family members and friends to do the same.
He said students have an important role to play in creating awareness about the harmful effects of drugs and in contributing to a healthier and more responsible society.
Call to Make Panjab University World-Class
Concluding his address, the Vice President expressed confidence that the Advanced Instrumentation Facility and Panjab University Tech Innovation Forum would further strengthen the University’s contribution to research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
He urged students and faculty to ensure that ideas emerging from classrooms and laboratories are translated into opportunities for young people and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Radhakrishnan called for collective efforts from the entire University community to transform Panjab University into a world-class institution of higher education and research. He also invited suggestions from faculty, students and other members of the University community on measures that could further strengthen the institution.
Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh U.T. Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Haryana Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Manish Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University Professor Meenakshi Goyal, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
