President opens India's first IIEST, seeks industry-academia synergy

Kolkata, August 25: Calling for a synergy between academia and industry, President Pranab Mukherjee Sunday stressed on giving high priority to the upgradation of state-level institutions.

Speaking after inaugurating the first Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) of the country at Shibpur in West Bengal's Howrah district, he said: "Quality up-gradation of state-level institutions, which account for 96 percent of the higher education capacity, needs to be accorded high priority."

The president also emphasised on the promotion of culture of excellence in India's higher academic institutions and nurturing of core competencies. "Academic cooperation between institutions must be encouraged. Research and innovation must go hand in hand and should be focused on solving our country's myriad developmental problems. "It is also important that industry and academia operate in tandem and create the right synergies and environment for industrial growth and academic rejuvenation," he said.

Mukherjee praised IIEST's efforts to address current global challenges in areas as diverse as renewable energy, water technology, medical and environmental sciences. The institute, formerly known as Bengal Engineering and Science University, also engages in the sectors of disaster management, clean coal technology, power electronics, remote-sensing and GIS, space technology, biochemical sensors, structural engineering, VLSI and embedded systems.

IANS