Vegan eggs, waterless shampoo steal attention at IIT-Delhi's Industry Day
On Saturday, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, observed its third edition of the annual Industry Day event. The event promotes Industry-Academia collaboration, and acts as a placement session for IIT's Ph.D. students. This Industry Day, students impressed attendees with over 200 innovative industry-focused products such as vegan eggs, bioabsorbable cardiac stents, waterless shampoo, and lighter bulletproof jackets. Here are more details.
Over 250 delegates who attended the day-long event witnessed 25 hands-on product demonstrations and over 250 posters, depicting industry-focused work based on five themes. The themes included Clean Energy for Sustainable Economy and Environment, Sustainable Medical Technologies, Sustainable Environment, Emerging Nano and Advanced Materials, and Make In India. Additionally, 17 companies interviewed more than 70 students during the event's placement session.
Among the hands-on demonstrations by IIT-D students on Industry Day were a plant-based recipe for scrambled eggs, which made use of moong (split green gram) to mimic the taste and nutritional value of scrambled eggs. Another demonstration included a bioabsorbable cardiac stent, which would dissolve inside a body within five years, unlike metal stents used currently, which need to be removed.
A 30% lighter bulletproof jacket, intended for military use, was among some of the other products showed on Industry Day, which was turned into a selfie prop. A water-activated powerless heating system, fashion made out of waste, waterless shampoos and soaps, etc. were other displays.
Speaking at the event, IIT-D Director Prof. V Ramgopal Rao said, "Earlier there was a specific role for academia in the industry. Things have changed now. Research has become an important component of industry. Academia is now expected to develop products." Maintaining that institutions are like 'idea factories', he added, "Our job is to bring unlike minds together, create job and the right atmosphere."
Meanwhile, some of the key delegates at the event were Mr. Manpreet Singh, Director - KPMG, Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan, Former Secretary, DBT, Dr. Sanjay Singh, CEO, Gennova Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Dipakshi Mehandru, Policy Advocacy & Government Affairs, Dr. Renu Swarup, MD BIRAC.
NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul, who was the event's chief guest, said, "India's national progress is crucially dependent on the science we discover and understand, on technologies we can create and manufacture, and on products our people can use and access." He added, "It needs innovation, both frugal and disruptive, and this discourse is to be imbibed by us in our system."
Referring to India's medical devices market, currently worth $7-8 billion, Dr. Paul said, "75% of this demand is met by imports. However, considering the talent and potential India has, this market can be worth $50 billion in India and only innovation can achieve that."
