Academia should focus on fundamental research: IIT experts

The academia should focus on fundamental research to bring disruptive technology innovations rather than just becoming an extended arm of the industry, believe experts at IIT.
"Disruptive technology refers to any enhanced or completely new technology that replaces and disrupts an existing technology, rendering it obsolete. It is designed to succeed similar technology that is already in use," said Arun Kumar Singh, Assistant Professor, IIT-Jodhpur.
Singh was moderating a discussion on "How to improve engagements of the IITs in the National Technology Mission" at the Ninth National Frontiers of Engineering Symposium here.
It is the need of the hour that we go beyond existing technologies keeping future in mind and pave way for accelerated development of the country in all walks by finding the innovative tech solutions to meet the expectations from the National Technology Mission, he said.

The panelists, however, while emphasising the intense researches, pointed that the academic researches should focus on fundamental aspects of science and technology whereas the industrial researches should focus more on industrial innovations with short terms goals targeted at the market gains.
"There is a greater need to build an eco-system where industry and academia can work together on collaborative projects with long term research objectives of new technology developments along with some short term goals that address the issues faced by the industry," said the Director of IIT Jodhpur CVR Murti.

The panelists also observed that the academic research must also focus on prototyping to increase the chances of taking the laboratory research to the product level.

"One possible option for the prototyping will be use of 3D printing, potentially new material enhancements can improve usability of such prototypes," said Singh.
The symposium concluded on a consensus that there should be regular interactions between academia and industry with the Indian National Academy of Engineers playing an important role in development of the framework for the same.