SYED BASHARAT
MUMBAI, Oct 9: In a heartening development for medical science and innovation, IIT Bombay has expressed willingness to collaborate with the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, in the field of cancer research and treatment. Responding to a query from Kashmir Despatch during the visit of the PIB J&K Media Delegation to the premier institute, Prof. Ravindra Gudi, Deputy Director (Finance, Infrastructure & Administration), said IIT Bombay would “welcome any such initiative if proposed by SKIMS authorities as per their need and demand.”
Prof. Gudi emphasized that IIT Bombay’s multidisciplinary expertise in healthcare technologies, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence could complement the clinical excellence of SKIMS, potentially paving the way for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for cancer — one of the leading health challenges in the country today. He added that IIT Bombay encourages collaborative research addressing pressing social and medical concerns and would be keen to explore partnerships that combine engineering innovation with medical science.
The media delegation, led by Ms. Neha Jalali, Director, Press Information Bureau (PIB) Jammu, and accompanied by Ms. Falguni Banerjee, PRO, IIT Bombay, visited various departments and research centres of the institute to gain insights into India’s scientific advancements.
At the Nanotechnology Lab, the delegates were briefed on the National Semiconductor Mission and the SemiX Project—two of IIT Bombay’s flagship initiatives aimed at creating a robust semiconductor and display ecosystem in India. Officials explained that the SemiX Centre for Semiconductor Technologies, established in 2022, integrates expertise across materials, devices, circuits, and software to strengthen India’s semiconductor value chain.
The centre’s partnerships include a collaboration with Synopsys to establish the Synopsys Virtual Fab Lab, which provides researchers with simulation environments for semiconductor design and process development. IIT Bombay has also joined hands with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to build India’s first Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager—a pathbreaking device that uses quantum sensing for non-destructive chip imaging and could, in the future, be adapted for high-resolution biomedical imaging and cancer diagnostics.
Officials further highlighted IIT Bombay’s work on power semiconductor devices, indigenous memory technology, and nanoelectronic innovations, all of which demonstrate the institute’s growing capacity to translate advanced research into practical, real-world applications. Such capabilities, when linked with a medical institution like SKIMS, could potentially lead to low-cost diagnostic tools, advanced imaging systems, and precision therapy aids for cancer and other chronic diseases.
During the interaction, the delegation also met research students from Jammu and Kashmir working on low-cost blood analysis kits to detect diseases like sickle cell anaemia. A moment of pride came when the delegation met a Kashmiri female scholar who completed her PhD in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay and has since launched a startup under the mentorship of the institute — a shining example of Kashmiri talent thriving in India’s top innovation ecosystem.
Adding to this sense of pride, the delegation also interacted with Prof. Nishant Sharma, a son of the soil from Jammu, who is a faculty member at the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) at IIT Bombay. Prof. Sharma is widely recognised for his contributions to industrial and product design, with a focus on user-centred design, design innovation, and product development. At IDC, he plays a vital role in teaching and mentoring students, guiding them through the principles of design thinking and its practical applications in solving real-world problems.
Prof. Sharma’s research work delves into advanced design methodologies and their practical implications in industry and society. During his interaction with the visiting delegation, he spoke passionately about the scope of design and innovation for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, encouraging students from the region to explore emerging domains such as product design, UX/UI innovation, and sustainable design solutions. He underscored that design, when integrated with technology, can become a powerful tool for social change and economic empowerment, and highlighted IIT Bombay’s willingness to mentor and support talented youth from J&K in this field.
The visit to the Aspire IITB Research Park Foundation proved particularly insightful. Officials explained that Aspire Park serves as a bridge between academia and industry, offering incubation facilities, co-creation spaces, and collaborative research opportunities. Importantly, companies and startups from Jammu and Kashmir can also utilize this facility for R&D collaborations with IIT Bombay, gaining access to the institute’s laboratories, technical expertise, and mentorship support.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Neha Jalali, Director, PIB Jammu, said such visits enable journalists from Jammu and Kashmir to witness first-hand India’s progress in science and innovation. “Visits to premier institutions such as IIT Bombay help enrich our understanding of the nation’s research ecosystem and its role in addressing societal challenges through technology,” she remarked.
The PIB J&K Media Tour to Mumbai is a five-day exposure programme designed to familiarize journalists from Jammu and Kashmir with India’s cutting-edge institutions and scientific advancements, thereby enhancing their professional understanding of national development and innovation.
