Professor Siddharth Patwardhan made seven visits to industry and higher education establishments during a recent visit to India. During these visits he acted as an ambassador for the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, and the wider Faculty, where he was able to share our research highlights and impact as well as an overview of our curriculum.
Knowledge exchange is an important part of academic overseas visits. These visits ensure that our research is relevant and connected to the real world, and industry gets to hear about our cutting edge research and innovations. Possible collaborations are often discussed during these visits.
Professor Patwardhan said: "Engaging with industry professionals provided invaluable insights into their current work and it was interesting to explore potential avenues for future collaboration.
“A particular highlight of the trip was revisiting the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, where I was an undergraduate student. Delivering a lecture in the very classroom where I once occupied a backbench seat was a rewarding experience.
“During my visits to the universities I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with students and researchers and discovering more about their ground breaking research, especially the work at IIT-, Bombay where I got to learn about their work on CO2 utilisation and large scale demonstrator.
“I was particularly impressed with the pilot plant at the National Chemical Laboratory which produces mesoporous silica. I am looking forward to building collaboration across research and training as this closely aligns with the work we do in our School and strongly aligns with the manufacturing research and commercialisation we are focussing on.
“This trip has yielded a wealth of new perspectives and valuable connections!"
Writing on LinkedIn, the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Indore stated: “Dr. Patwardhan shared his expertise in sustainable materials development, highlighting innovative strategies for bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application. The session provided our undergraduate students with valuable perspectives on the potential of green nanotechnology to drive toward a more sustainable future. It was an inspiring opportunity to learn from a leader in the field and explore the exciting possibilities of eco-friendly material innovations.”
Higher education visits
Indian Institute of Technology, Indore
Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Industry visits
Oneirix Labs, a company that helps clients develop innovative new technology using deep expertise in applied mathematics and algorithms.
Elvikon, a biotech company specialising in both fundamental and applied research. Elvikon offers Contract Research Services (CROs) to a range of industries, including Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Food, and Medical devices.
National Chemical Laboratory, a research, development and consulting organisation with a focus on chemistry and chemical engineering.
Serigen is an innovation driven, tissue regeneration products company who leverage the materials science of natural silk proteins to develop unique biomedical products.