Mysore/Mysuru: A recent gathering brought together Principals and Leaders from 18 institutions to explore potential collaborations, laying the groundwork for future strides in bridging the gap between academia and industry.

The interaction, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry, Mysuru Zone (CII Mysuru Zone), began with a discussion of 30 events held across 11 institutions, which involved the participation of 20 industry members, leaving an indelible impact on nearly 5,000 students.

Santosh Gundapi, Senior Director at AT&S India Pvt. Ltd.,  and Vice-Chairman of CII Mysuru, delved into the realm of industry projects, elucidating their potential as vehicles for addressing industry challenges.

Encouraging institutions to take ownership of such projects, he advocated for sustained engagement, involving faculty and successive batches of students to ensure successful outcomes.

Eswar Rao, Vice-President (Works), JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., Mysuru and CII Mysuru Chairman, drew from his experiences to exemplify the mutually beneficial nature of industry-academia collaborations. He cited instances where his company leveraged patented solutions from academic realms, resulting in fruitful outcomes for both parties.  Extolling the virtues of collaborative problem-solving, he urged institutions to actively engage with industry partners in tackling real-world challenges, emphasising the potential for win-win outcomes.

The dialogue culminated in a plethora of ideas and suggestions from Principals and senior members across engineering, management and general degree colleges, as well as universities, paving the way for a future marked by innovation and synergy.