Conference on “Sustaining Progress: Global Perspectives on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Investments”

Chandigarh, November 29, 2023: DST-Centre for Policy Research (CPR) at Panjab University, Chandigarh hosted a Conference on "Sustaining Progress: Global Perspectives on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Investments" on Wednesday under the guidance of Coordinator Prof Kashmir Singh. 

The event was consisted of talks by eminent speakers on Pubic Private Partnerships as well as Panel discussion with aim of “understanding the landscape of PPP in Indian R&D ecosystem and financing”.  Prof. Yajvender Pal Verma, Registrar, Panjab University, Chandigarh graced the event. He highlighted the various initiatives to bring private sector on board to flourish the R&D culture at Panjab University, Chandigarh. He stressed on the risk sharing between the key actors i.e. academia and industry as well as nurturing the culture of entrepreneurship and startups in universities itself.

Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Adviser & Head of the PCPM at DST, GoI was the chief guest for the event. He highlighted all endeavours going on at national level where private sectors contributing 40% to the R&D ecosystem. He stressed on the need to raise contribution from private sector in R&D. He mentioned Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 that can play a key actor. He informed the participants about various issues that are hurdle to state, central universities from connecting them with the industry counterpart. 

Dr. J.K Arora , Executive Director , Punjab state council for science and technology, Chandigarh was the guest of honour. She highlighted the various initiatives of Punjab state science council taking to strengthen the R&D ecosystem in MSME of Punjab.

Dr. Akhilesh Gupta also chaired the panel discussion on Role of PPPs and Tech Transfer in driving the R&D ecosystem of HEIs. The panel discussion led to highlight the private sector participation in commercialisation of technologies as well as India’s standing at global level.

The role of FDI in strengthening the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem of India was also taken up in another panel discussion emphasizing the Role of Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for the inflow of FDI in India in the R&D ecosystem of public state universities.

The event is witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests, including directors/heads of renowned institutes, representatives from Technology Transfer Offices at HEIs, representative from United Nations Industrial Development Organization as well as students from Panjab University, Chandigarh and other reputed institutes in the region.