Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre

An Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre has been established. It provides platforms and mechanisms for the actors and stakeholders in the region to interact with each other and thus to foster needs/opportunities based on innovation. The importance of education and innovation is undisputed in helping a nation become a global leader and in maintaining its leadership. Taking into the account the diverse needs of people from across India, regional growth becomes the foundation for national development. An Innovation Centre, as noted above, will be able to provide platforms and mechanisms for the actors and stakeholders in the region to interact with each other and thus foster need/opportunity based innovation. A University in the region, being the knowledge epicenter, will naturally be able to champion multitude of initiatives to create, exploit and diffuse knowledge and innovations into its immediate and larger society.

Aims and Objectives

The Innovation-Cum-Incubation Centre is instrumental in drawing up the innovation strategy power and in creating roadmaps/action plans for the University. The following is a proposed list of activities that the Centre is envisaged to undertake:

• Technology transfer.
• Entrepreneurship promotion.
• Igniting Youth Innovation.
• Collaboration with industry, other Universities, regional and national stakeholders
• Creation of knowledge sharing mechanisms inside the University
• Training and mentoring
• Innovation in curriculum (It is worth noting that Berhampur University has already embarked upon this activity by introducing examination reforms, question bank and innovative design of answer scripts.)
• Innovation awareness and outreach
• University innovation strategy and roadmap.

The University Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre(IC) seeks to build an innovation network with multiple stakeholders like Industry, other Universities, R&D Labs and others. The University will act as the focal point and will be able to leverage:

• The technology R&D and problem solving strengths of the University
• The entrepreneurial spirit of the students and faculty
• Collaboration with local industry, NGOs and others
• The teaching and training capabilities of the University
• Government policy initiatives more efficiently

By doing so and by bridging demand-supply gaps, the IC will increase knowledge exploitation while giving birth to:

Innovations from R&D

• Innovations in business models along with products, services and delivery
• Inclusive solutions for local, regional, national and global needs
• Innovations in curriculum ( It is worth noting that BU has already embarked upon this activity by introducing examination reform, questioning bank and innovative design of answer scripts)

Thus, a University Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre will enable enhancements in multiple aspects of the University, while providing a better environment for innovation to flourish. Innovation Centre will act as a resource, a guide and an arm of the University to foster, facilitate and further innovation culture and spirit in the University and its stakeholders. The IC will be instrumental in drawing out the innovation strategy and in creating roadmaps/action plans for the University.

Projects Sanctioned

Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre of Berhampur University is implementing the following projects in different domain areas sanctioned by the Planning and Coordination Department, Govt. of Odisha. This is the first state university to receive fund for establishment of an Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre.

The Berhampur University has Innovation-Cum-Incubation Centre at ground floor of Central Instrumentation Centre. The center is funded by Planning and convergence center Govt. of Odisha with letter no. 14045/Inno/17 2015, dated 18/12/2015, Subsequent letter no. 716/P, Dated 16/02/2016. followed by Letter no 7668/Inno/17/2019 dated 08/07/2021. This is only University in the state having projects under innovations. The fund was sanctioned against following projects.

(a) Targeted Drug Delivery (TDD) (49.50 lakh)PI: Dr Laxmidhar Rout, Chemistry

(b) Climate Change mitigation through application of renewable energy and reduction of black carbon level (18.25 lakh), PI: Prof. Pratap K. Mohnaty

(c) Value Addition of Marine Fishery Products (29.24 lakh), PI: Prof. Pratap K. Mohnaty

(d) Igniting Youth Innovation (1.4 lakh), PI: Prof. Pratap K. Mohnaty

(e) The Innovation Toolkit (1.5 lakh), PI: Prof. Pratap K. Mohnaty

The following are the objectives of the Innovation-cum-incubation centre

1. Technology transfer and commercialization
2. Entrepreneurship promotion
3. Igniting Youth Innovation
4. Collaboration with: industry, other Universities, regional and national stakeholders
5. Creation of knowledge sharing mechanisms inside the University
6. Training and mentoring
7. Innovation in curriculum
8. Innovation awareness and outreach
9. University innovation strategy and roadmap

1. Targeted Drug Delivery (TDD)

Domain Area: Health-Targeted Delivery

Project Cost: Rs. 49.50 lakh

Implementation arrangement: The project shall be implemented by the Innovation Centre, Berhampur University after receipt of the sanctioned amount. PI, DR. Laxmidhar Rout, Department of Chemistry shall be the Nodal Point of the project. Berhampur University. Targeted drug delivery is a method of delivering medication to a patient in a manner that increases the concentration of the medication in some parts of the body relative to others. Since, the Human has different type of tissues in the different body part; Targeted drug delivery seeks to concentrate the medication in the tissues of interest while reducing the relative concentration of the medication in the remaining tissues. This improves efficacy of the drug while reducing side effects. It is very difficult for a drug molecule to reach its destination in the complex cellular network of an organism. Targeted delivery of drugs is to assist the drug molecule to reach preferably to the desired site. The inherent advantage of this technique has been the reduction in dose & side effect of the drug. That's why this is some time called as Smart Drug Delivery (SDD). Drug delivery refers to approaches, formulations, technologies, and systems for transporting a pharmaceutical compound in the body as needed to safely achieve its desired therapeutic effect.

Expertise: The multi-departmental expertise available at Berhampur University is the key for successful implementation of the Project. The drug delivery system is highly integrated and requires various disciplines

to join forces to optimize this system.

Chemists (Design and Synthesis of Drugs)

Biologists (Evaluation of Toxicity of Drug by Cell Culture)

Pharmacist (Formulation of Drug)

Engineers (Technology to localize the drugs in the body)

Collaborator (International scientist to help and discus about the delivery)

Project Implementation:

While implementing the project emphasis shall be laid on design, synthesis, formulation and delivery of the drugs in different cancer, tumour, cardiovascular, dengue and other diseases. In general Alkaloid and terpenes in achiral and chiral molecular form will be used as pro-drugs for above diseases.

2. Climate Change mitigation through application of renewable energy and reduction of black carbon level

Domain Area: Smart Cities

Project Cost: Rs. 18.25 Lakh

Implementation Arrangement: The Project shall be implemented by the Innovation Centre, Berhampur University in collaboration with Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune after receipt of the sanctioned amount. Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University (Prof. P. K. Mohanty ) shall be the Nodal Point of the project. Climate change associated with energy use is one of the most important environmental issues of our time, requiring urgent action on the part of all governments and citizens. Energy sector in India contributes 61.28% of green house gas emission followed by agriculture (28.37%). Cities are responsible for roughly 80% of emission on account of their consumption of electricity, food, transport and other commodities that require burning of fossil fuels.

Climate sensitivity to black carbon aerosol from fossil fuel Combustion Black carbon (BC) aerosol from fossil fuel combustion exerts a positive radiative forcing. The forcing from black carbon equals 0.9 watts per square meter, which is more than the forcing from methane and 55% of that from CO2 . Further, soot particles hang in the atmosphere for just a few weeks, whereas CO2 molecules remain in the air for centuries. Efforts to curb soot emissions could reap immediate climatic benefits. Thus the quickest way to combat global warming is to reduce black carbon. Black carbon absorbs sunlight high in the atmosphere over the Indian ocean, which shades the ocean surface and cuts down on evaporation. At the same time it cools the continent enough to weaken the monsoonal winds from the Indian Ocean. It is believed that soot is choking the moisture supply for the Indian monsoon and contributing to the retreat of

mountain glaciers that provide fresh water for more than a billion people(Ramanathan & Carmichael, 2008, Nature Geoscience). Thus, the consequences of black carbon release to the atmosphere (soot level) are highly dangerous both from the climate change point of view and its impacts on the availability of water in India and Indian monsoon.

Black Carbon

Black carbon aerosols or soot are tiny carbon based particles that are emitted to the atmosphere as by product of incomplete/inefficient fossil fuel combustion, forest fires, motor vehicles, coal plants and myriad other sources. Cooking method burning fossil fuel in most of the Asian countries contributes significantly to the atmospheric soot level.

Strategy to reduce black carbon level

In principle, a reduction in black carbon emissions is thus desirable and would make some contribution to slowing the rate of climate change. Therefore, the present study targets vulnerable regions and groups in and around Berhampur city to estimate the carbon foot prints and the benefit that could result due to energy efficient adaptation actions. The vulnerable groups planned to target are the poor people living in the slums and in the surrounding rural areas which burn fossil fuel for cooking. The study aims at making a comparative estimate of soot in the surrounding rural area and the slums in the city before and after energy efficient

adaptation strategies are implemented. Energy efficient adaptation strategy includes use of biogas/ renewable energy generated from bio-waste for cooking instead of fossil fuel. Besides, it is planned to assess the adaptation capability and factors motivating adaptation of the targeted groups/areas to protect the poor and vulnerable sections of the society through an inclusive and sustainable development strategy sensitive to climate change.

3. Value Addition of Marine Fishery Products

Domain Area: Sea Resources

Project Cost: Rs. 29.24 Lakh

Implementation arrangement: The project is being implemented by the Innovation Centre, Berhampur University in a collaborative mode with College of Fisheries, O.U.A.T.( Dr. Rabinarayan Mishra, Associate Professor, College of Fisheries as collaborator) and the Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University (Prof. L. Nayak and Prof. P.K. Mohanty).

The people in coastal areas mainly depend on coastal resources and the sea for their survival. Several activities such as unregulated tourism, polluting industries, infrastructure, aquaculture, sand mining & rapid urbanization pose serious threats to the health of these ecosystems and to lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. Climate change and changing patterns and behavior of sea and human interference with biological and ecological diversity of the coastal ecosystem for sustenance and livelihood are the key issues.

People in coastal zone depend mostly on coastal resources and agriculture for their livelihood. Over the years due to other effects the behavior of the sea is changing rapidly which threatens the livelihood of coastal people.

Objectives and Key Indicators

The project aims at providing best alternative livelihood support in the 10 fishermen villages on a pilot basis, mostly situated in the periphery of Gopalpur-on-Sea through value addition of fishery products/ Hygienic fish drying yard etc. so as to make them less dependent on fishing and thereby reducing fishing pressure.

Here it is worth mentioning that in these areas under the project, the livelihood of the fishermen is mostly fishing in the sea which has been affected by the ban imposed for the turtle conservation for which the fishermen population have lost their livelihood for about nine months in a year and are the right person to be given alternative livelihood for their sustenance.

Objectives

• To improve the socio-economic status of traditional fisher folk
• To Reduce fishing pressure
• To minimize destructive fishing/ illegal fishing
• To protect spawning ground of economically valuable and endangered fish fauna
• To enrich Bio-diversity
• To sensitize fisher for responsible fishing
• To upgrade R&D for effective resource management and eentrepreneurship development.

Key indicators

• Reduction in migration of fishermen as labourers to neighbouring states and districts,
• Increase in per capita income of fisher family,
• Better living condition of fisher around project area,
• Formation of self help groups,
• Decreased number of boats caught in restricted area in ban period violating OMFRA.

4. Igniting Youth Innovation

Project Cost: Rs. 1.5 Lakh

To foster Innovation at an early stage and to create an innovative mindset in the youth, NInC has proposed the creation of Tod Fod Jod (TFJ) centres in schools and colleges. The aim is to provide a hands-on learning environment where students can de-construct, re-construct or re-purpose everyday objects that they see or use. TFJ not only allows students to understand the scientific principles behind everyday products they use,

but also help to expand their horizons to larger concepts and application to enable them to solve real world problems. Berhampur University has 148 affiliated colleges where more than 40,000 youth within age group of 15-28 years are studying. Therefore, it is planned to create innovation awareness within the youths studying in the university and its affiliated colleges at regular interval by organising lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, focused group discussions, science and craft exhibitions and demonstrations of innovative technologies through experts/resource persons. While participation of youths from the university and colleges is the essential requirement for these events, participation from relevant local/national Industry,

research institutions, civil society and Government shall be ensured. Such interactions will not only help in sharing knowledge/technology between the interested parties but also help identify challenges faced by local community.

5. The Innovation Toolkit

Project Cost: Rs. 1.5 Lakh

The Innovation Toolkit is intended to act as a guide and a handbook to the IC and innovators alike. While the IC will act as the focal point for the university and its stakeholders, there is also a requirement for both literary and handy resources which help them function. Resources like best practices and case studies, innovations/technologies made/developed through National Innovation Foundation (NIF)(http://www.nif.org.in), policy and regulation guidelines, latest news, etc. will be needed by the IC to effectively initiate and manage their activities. This will help first-timers and practitioners reap benefits of the knowledge accumulated over the years by peers worldwide.

Various kinds of templates for related activities viz. patent applications, business plan templates, project proposal templates, management tools, etc. will be of immense help and will be part of the Toolkit. One of the key components of the Toolkit will be directories of regional/national/global professional services, institutions and experts. This list, with relevant contact information, will provide easy accessibility, thus opening doors for collaboration between organizations and individuals both regional and national levels.

Thus, the Innovation Toolkit will be an online repository of:

• Writing Contents and List of Tables of Main Thesis
• Margin Settings and Tables
• Case Study
• Flow Chart
• Footnotes
• Question Answer and Voices
• Review of Literature
• Research Report
• Bibliography
• Setting Out References
• How to Write a Research Report and Give a Presentation
• Best practices and case studies
• Guidelines and policies
• Event notifications
• Resources and expert directories
• Documentation templates

Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre Report

Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre Report