HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, Nov 5: The Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology (APSCS&T), Centre of Excellence for Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Kimin (CoE for BRSD), Department of Science & Technology, Government of Arunachal Pradesh with the support of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, successfully organised the Industry–Academia Meet 2025 to strengthen biotechnology collaboration in Northeast India.
The event, held under the theme “Comprehensive Biotech Skills and Empowerment Development Programme for Postgraduates of Arunachal Pradesh and other NER States,” brought together a distinguished gathering of scientists, academicians, policymakers and industry leaders to chart the future of biotechnology education, research and employment in the North Eastern Region (NER). Designed as a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration, the meet sought to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial application, while promoting employability, entrepreneurship and innovation among biotechnology postgraduates across the region.
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Addressing the function as chief guest, former Minister and APSCS&T Chairman Tage Taki said that it was a happy occasion to see a host of scientists, researchers, postgraduate students and officers from various Science & Technology departments of the NE region come together for deliberations to understand the use of science in daily life and its sustainable application for improving lifestyles.
Scientist-G/Advisor (NER Division) Dr Nitin Kumar Jain, Secretary (S&T) Sumedha, Scientist-F & Associate Head, NER Division Dr Suraksha S Diwan, Director-cum-Member Secretary, APSCS&T C D Mungyak, Joint Director & Project Director, DBT–APSCS&T CoE for BRSD Dr Debajit Mahanta and Deputy Director (Technical) Dr P Lombi attended the inaugural ceremony as guest of honour and special guests respectively.
Scientist-F & Associate Head, NER Division, Dr Suraksha S Diwan emphasised DBT’s continued commitment to nurturing biotechnology talent and strengthening human resource capacity in the Northeast through sustained skill development and research support.
Delivering the keynote address virtually, Dr Nitin Kumar Jain highlighted the need to align academic curricula with industrial needs to create a skilled and innovation-oriented biotechnology workforce for the region.
The major highlight of the inaugural session was the launch of three innovative biotechnologies by the DBT–APSCS&T Centre of Excellence for Bioresources and Sustainable Development (CoE–BRSD), Kimin — namely, the Banana Fibre Tea Bag Technology, the Mobile Cohobation Platform and the Temperature-Independent Microbial Revival Formulation — showcasing Arunachal Pradesh’s leadership in sustainable, eco-friendly and entrepreneurship-driven bio-innovation in the Northeast.
Four technical sessions were held during the day, featuring deliberations on biotechnology skill development, employability and entrepreneurship. Industry representatives from Oil India Ltd, Assam Bio Ethanol Pvt Ltd, Dabur India Ltd, and Patanjali Foods Ltd shared insights on evolving manpower requirements, technological advances and sectoral opportunities in the biotechnology landscape.
Academic experts from NERIST, Rajiv Gandhi University and Assam Agricultural University discussed strategies to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and industrial expectations through curriculum reform and practical exposure.
Experts from IBSD, Manipur; ICAR–IARI, Assam and BRDC, Meghalaya highlighted the importance of hands-on training, effective communication and translational skills to ensure employability and industrial readiness among biotechnology graduates. Speakers from Guwahati Biotech Park, Oil India Ltd, and Pabhoi Greens Pvt Ltd inspired young professionals to pursue research-driven entrepreneurship and innovative bioresource-based ventures across the region.
The rapporteur report was presented by Dr Debajit Mahanta, summarising the key takeaways and recommendations from the sessions.
In her concluding remarks, Dr Suraksha S Diwan lauded APSCS&T’s consistent efforts in fostering biotechnology education, innovation and skill-building initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh and across the Northeast. The Industry–Academia Meet 2025 reaffirmed the shared commitment of academia, industry and government towards strengthening the biotechnology ecosystem of the Northeast. It underscored the importance of collaborative partnerships, the need to address existing skill gaps through future finishing school programmes.
