Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates North East Research Conclave 2022 at IIT Guwahati

Ø Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam and other eminent dignitaries grace the occasion Ø NERC 2022 is intended to create a common interface for collaboration among educational/research institutions and industries across the North-East Ø More than 5,000 participants from diverse sectors such as Industry, Academia, Start-Ups, Research Councils, PSUs, laboratories, and Technical Institutes are taking part in the event Ø During the event, an MoU was signed between IIT Guwahati and Government of Assam to set up Assam Advanced Health Innovation Institute (AAHII)

GUWAHATI : Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati formally inaugurated the three-day ‘North East Research Conclave 2022’ today (20th May 2022) in the presence of eminent dignitaries. It is being held between 20th and 22nd May 2022 jointly with the Science, Technology, and Climate Change Department and the Department of Education, Government of Assam at the IIT Guwahati campus.

The Conclave is hosting around 5,000 eminent personalities from the North-East as well as other parts of India. The participants hail from various sectors such as Industry, Academia, Start-Ups, Research Councils, PSUs, laboratories and Technical Institutes including Schools and colleges.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister, Government of India, inaugurated the event in the esteemed presence of Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Minister of AYUSH, Government of India, Shri Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Government of India, Shri Rameswar Teli, Hon’ble Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Labour and Employment, Government of India, Shri Ranoj Pegu, Hon’ble Minister of Education Government of Assam, Shri Keshab Mahanta, Minister Health and Family Welfare, Information Technology, Science and Technology. Government of Assam, Shri Karma Loday Bhutia, Minister of Forest, Environment and Wildlife, Mines, Mineral & Geology and Science and technology Sikkim, Ms. Queen Oja, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and other dignitaries.

Delivering the inaugural address, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister, Government of India, said, “I congratulate IIT Guwahati and the Government of Assam for organising the North East Research Conclave. There is a need for greater synergy among Industry, Academia and Policymakers for solving the problem of the country and meeting the needs of the poorest of the poor. The NERC gives a platform for all strata of stakeholders to come together and collaborate. This conclave will help create a strong ecosystem of research and innovation and take it to a scalable stage.”

The inauguration of the conclave was followed by the signing of a MoU between IIT Guwahati and the Government of Assam to establish ‘The Assam Advanced Health Innovation Institute (AAHII).

This will be a unique partnership between the Government of Assam and IIT Guwahati to set up a Research Institution to leverage advanced technologies to transform medical science. The joint venture company will invite participation from intending parties including corporates/ business houses/research institutions and philanthropic organisations.

The scope of this collaboration involves establishing a Research Institute and Post Graduate Medical College Offering Advanced Medical Degrees – DNB, MD, PhD, MS and MD-PhD, 350-bedded ‘Connected’ Multi-Specialty Hospital spread over 50000 sq. meter in existing IIT, Guwahati campus with an Outlay of Rs. 546 Crores.

Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, said, “I congratulate IIT Guwahati for organizing this conclave with such elaborate arrangements. Research and Development are crucial for a fast-developing nation like India. It is an investment for boosting our capability to make life easier comfortable and advanced. I am hopeful that this conclave will give a unique opportunity for meeting minds and doing something great for the country.”

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the conclave Prof. T G. Sitharam Director, IIT Guwahati, said, “The conclave is organized by IIT Guwahati under the advice of the Hon’ble Education Minister to ensure the successful implementation of National Education Policy 2020 and the promotion of research and development, innovation and startup culture. This will help in creating a strong research ecosystem, not just in this region, but also will help in networking with Industries startups, and entrepreneurs from across the country.”

The third edition of Assam Biotech Conclave 2022 is also being held as part of NERC 2022. It brings together the Biotech Entrepreneurs, industry leaders, researchers, academicians, Government Representatives, policy makers, innovators and investors together on one platform to explore the possibilities of Biotechnology in North East India and to discuss the new opportunities in the transition.

The Mission of NERC-2022 is

a) To create a common interface for collaboration and showcase the best research and development activities through the exhibition from all the educational/research institutions and industries across the states of North-East India,

b) To create an environment conducive to the development of local indigenous technologies and innovations, creating the scope and laying the foundation for the promotion of translational research and entrepreneurship and

c) To help the country achieve the goals of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

NERC 2022 offers a unique platform for academia and industry to showcase their expertise, products, and technology innovations. The conclave is expected to benefit all stakeholders in terms of setting up long-term collaboration for research and development innovations towards the goal of establishing R&D innovation-based sustainable North East India.