JULY 31: In a significant move to strengthen research, innovation, and technology commercialization in Uttarakhand, the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) and Doon University, Dehradun, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on July 28, 2025, at Raj Bhawan, Dehradun. The landmark event was graced by Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, underscoring the growing importance of academia-industry collaboration in the state.
This partnership marks NRDC’s first formal alliance with a state university in Uttarakhand, setting the tone for future institutional partnerships under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The Governor emphasized that the agreement would help unlock the innovation potential of the state by turning research into real-world solutions.
“Universities must move beyond traditional roles and serve as centers for innovation and economic development,” he stated. The collaboration aims to protect intellectual property (IP) generated by Doon University and guide the transformation of innovations into marketable technologies.
Cmde Amit Rastogi (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director of NRDC, reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to enabling IP filing, technology transfer, and commercialization for the university. He added that the partnership would foster entrepreneurship and industry-ready research by bridging the gap between academic output and commercial viability.
Prof. Surekha Dangwal, Vice Chancellor of Doon University, highlighted the university’s strategic pivot toward IP-led research, especially in the fields of environmental science, natural resources, design, and applied sciences. She expressed confidence that the partnership would help secure patents and boost the university’s contribution to the state’s innovation economy.
Senior officials from both NRDC and Doon University, along with deans, faculty members, and media representatives, were present at the signing. The agreement is poised to create a robust pipeline for startup creation, research commercialization, and enhanced industry-academia synergy in Uttarakhand.
This collaboration not only strengthens Doon University’s research capabilities but also establishes a replicable model for other state universities aiming to contribute to India’s innovation and technology ecosystem.
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