Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir has been awarded a BIRAC grant of Rs 60 lakh under the category Innovation Clean Technology-Scale Up by GoI’s Department of Biotechnology Technology (DBT).
The grant is another milestone in pursuit of SKUAST-K’s mission to transform itself as a leading innovation-led farm university in the country, the university said in a press release.
SKUAST-K’s young scientist Dr M Muzammil (Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering) won the Rs 60 lakh grant for his novel technological concept “Design and development of smart vermicomposting chamber for rapid transformation of organic waste into fortified vermicompost in temperate region of Kashmir” under Innovation Clean Technology-Scale Up – 2023 category, the university said.
It added, “With this award, SKUAST-K has emerged as the No. 1 State Agriculture University in the Country and any university in Jammu and Kashmir to have earned the highest number of BIRAC grants, nine, covering almost all major funding schemes of BIRAC like BIG BIRAC, BIG PACE and BIRAC Scale Up. This winning streak is the result of an effective ecosystem for innovators & startups created in SKUAST K by SKUAST-K Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship Centre.”
Over a short period of a few years, SKUAST-K’s vibrant ecosystem for innovators and incubates has yielded significant results. These include 20 registered Startups of Students and Faculty and 10 patents, a number of commercialised technologies.
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, while congratulating Dr M Muzammil for receiving the grant, impressed upon him to take advantage of the support system of the university at its Incubation Centre (SKIIEC) for commercialisation of the technologies. The VC also complimented Prof Haroon R Naik, Director Planning & Monitoring, SKUAST-K and Naveed Hamid, Chief Executive Officer (SKIIEC) for their significant contribution to creating a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and startups.
