HT Correspondent
JORHAT, May 13: Professor Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, has stressed the urgent need for environmentally sustainable technologies, citing Numaligarh Refinery Limited’s (NRL) ethanol and bamboo-based fuel project in Assam as a notable example.
Delivering the National Technology Day lecture during the 2025 celebrations at CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST) in Jorhat on Monday, Professor Jalihal also underlined the necessity of water treatment plants in urban areas.
He presented a comprehensive overview of the historical relevance of National Technology Day and compared India’s economic growth trajectory with that of developed countries.
His address emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing critical environmental and developmental challenges.
The celebrations at NEIST focused on technological advancements, sustainable agriculture, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
CSIR-NEIST Director Dr V M Tiwari, in his address, thanked Professor Jalihal and other guests for participating in the programme despite their busy schedules.
Dr Tiwari also highlighted CSIR-NEIST’s technology transfers to 36 industry partners and its support to over 100 farmers.
He mentioned institutional resources such as BioNEST and IICON, which are accessible to farmers, self-help groups, and entrepreneurs.
A Technology Transfer and MoU Exchange session was also held during the event.
Technologies including Liquid Deodorant and Cleaner, Low Dust Chalk Pencil, Wax Crayon Pencil, and Mosquito Repellent Decorative Candles were transferred to M/s Sansys Enterprises, Dibrugarh. Additionally, Carbon Quantum Dots technology was transferred to M/s Sowbhagya Biotech Pvt Ltd, Telangana, through NRDC, New Delhi.
Four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with Assam Agroforestry Development Board (AADB), Guwahati; North Eastern Small Industries Association (NESSIA), Jorhat; The Assam Kaziranga University, Jorhat; and Mangaldoi College, Darrang.
These partnerships aim to promote entrepreneurship development in Northeast India through the dissemination of CSIR-NEIST technologies and foster academic and research collaboration.
The MoU with AADB outlines collaboration to establish a Centre of Excellence on Agarwood at CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat, with the goal of creating a scientific and policy-driven foundation for the sustainable development of Assam’s agarwood sector.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr Swapnali Hazarika, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-NEIST.