Mangaluru: Mission Utthan Launched to Bridge Academia, Industry and Rural Development

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 9, 2025: Mission Utthan, an initiative aimed at enhancing Tier 2 and Tier 3 educational institutions, was launched in Mangaluru under the aegis of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India. The program focuses on fostering research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, said Vishwas US, founder-director of Section Infin 8 Foundation.

Key aspects of the mission include industry-academia collaboration through internships, faculty exchanges, and research fellowships, as well as partnerships with global universities for knowledge exchange and joint degree programs. It also emphasizes community-focused initiatives such as smart village centres to promote entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, along with leadership programs for women in STEM.

The initiative plans to establish eight incubation centres in the district, collaborating with institutions like Canara Engineering College, St. Joseph Engineering College, and Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management. Smart village centres, integrated with advanced technologies from IITs, will focus on sustainable development.

Partnership discussions are underway with organizations including Mangaluru SEZ, GAIL, and Nitte Deemed to be University for CSR funding to support these centres. The mission was unveiled at the IDFC First Bank Emerge 2025 startup festival, with a logo design competition also announced to engage creative minds.