The Act establishes dedicated authorities to oversee these functions, moving them from being optional activities to core responsibilities of the university . The primary bodies responsible are the Board of Innovation, Incubation and Enterprise and the Board of National and International Linkages. Their roles are further supported by other university bodies.
The Board of Innovation, Incubation and Enterprise
This board is the cornerstone of the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As per Section 53(1) of the Act, its primary responsibility is to create an environment that encourages innovation and guides ideas from conception to commercial reality . Its key functions include:
– Fostering Innovation: Propagating the concept of innovation among students and faculty.
– Supporting Incubation: Providing the necessary infrastructure and mentorship to convert innovative ideas into working models or prototypes.
– Enterprise Creation: Guiding incubated ideas to ultimately lead to the creation of new business enterprises or startups.
राष्ट्रीय आणि आंतरराष्ट्रीय संबंध मंडळ
Mandated under Section 51(1), this board is tasked with building the university’s external relationships to enhance its academic and research standing . Its core objectives are to:
– Cultivate, establish, and maintain strong links with premier national and international universities and institutions.
– Facilitate collaborations for academic exchange, joint research, and sharing of best practices.
Supporting Roles of Other Authorities
The Act ensures that the goals of innovation and linkages are integrated into the university’s overall functioning by assigning related duties to other statutory bodies:
– Board of Research (Section 59(1)):
Tasked with promoting and strengthening research activities, planning them, and raising finances. This board works in tandem with the innovation ecosystem to support research that can lead to commercially viable products.
– The Role of the Director
To ensure these functions are executed effectively, the Act provides for a dedicated officer. The Director of Innovation, Incubation and Linkages serves as the Member-Secretary to the key boards mentioned above (Innovation, Linkages, and Research), acting as a crucial link between policy and implementation. Their responsibilities include:
– Scheduling and conducting meetings of the Board of Deans and ensuring follow-up action.
– Driving the university’s agenda in research, entrepreneurship, and IPR.
– Fostering linkages with industries for integrated planning.
