Role of Academia Industry Alliances

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Role of Academia- Industry Alliances

• Arun K Pujari
• Head,
• Dept of Computer Information Sciences
• University of Hyderabad

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Need?

• To develop technology for the next generation.
• Service to the society
• Integrate resources and applied research
  expertise
• Bridge commercial sector and the academia gap
• Increase research efficiency
• Expand and enhance capabilities
• Plan cost cuts, reduce RD cycle time

3
Development

• University
• University research is normally far from real
  applications.
• Mostly inspired by research papers and documents.
• Flexible time. (no time limit)
• Ahead of time - futuristic.
• Not a ready product

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Development

• Industry
• Industrys problems are
• well defined,
• time bound,
• multidisciplinary in nature.
• Lacks conceptual rigor
• Requires subject experts knowledge
• But also requires experts skill for project
  execution.

5
Gap

• There is a gap
• Any alliance should aim at bridging this gap
• Why?
• Better technology development
• Better product
• Less risk, cost-effective
• Minimize the development cycle

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Education

• University is the producer
• Industry is the consumer
• The product as comes out of the university is not
  industry ready.
• Requires additional training
• Overheads Training cost time

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Gap here too

• Bridging this gap helps
• Industry-ready graduates
• Concepts blend with skills
• Reduce the training time
• Reduce other overheads
• Better motivation for students

8
Resources

• Platforms, Softwares
• Universities lack behind in resources
• These varies across industries
• Universities training is general
• Industry requires project specific platform

9
Roadmap

• Collaboration
• Research Development
• Curricula development
• Internship
• Personnel
• Research programme
• Incubater
• Networking

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Development

• Industry nurtured academic research
• The research problem to be identified on
  consultation.
• The problem is of relevance to an industry.
• The problem can be of relevance to an industry.
• Manufacturing vs. innovation

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A personal experience

• In 1989-90, a technique developed in University
  of Hyderabad, to identify the volumetric
  description of an unknown objects from its
  images.
• No prototype as equipments were expensive.
• Chapter was closed with couple of publications.
• In 1997, a researcher in USA evaluated all the
  methods and identified the advantages of UoH
  method.
• I understand that the technique is being used by
  others.

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Proposal

• To initiate and implement joint and/or
  complementary programmes
• Innovation and technology development
• Technology transfer
• To develop
• Related support services
• Infrastructural facilities

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RD Collaboration

• Better utilisation of time and resources from
  both sides.
• Culmination of satisfaction when ideas shape to
  products.- Researchers dream.
• Products lead to research problems.
• Industry graduates from manufacturing to
  innovation

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Curricula Development

• Industry and University collaborate in
• Development of curricula
• Development of courseware
• Imparting training
• Teaching
• From good teacher
• From good practitioner
• Lab sessions

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Internship and Training

• Customized professional development training,
• Internship programme, and
• Industrial training
• To ensure ample supply of quality professionals
  and
• To align the technical skill set through
  collaboration with professional organizations and
  academic

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Personnel

• Industry professional should impart training in
  university.
• Universities should depute teachers to industry
  (during vacations).
• Courseware should be developed in collaboration.

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Resources

• Library
• Infrastructures
• Labs
• Equipment
• Testing plans

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Scholarships

• Scholarship for researchers
• Endowment chair
• Lab establishment

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Networking

• Industry networking creates a common platform to
  build relationships, explore business
  opportunities and exchange ideas among the peers

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Benefits

• Create new jobs, companies and industries
• Develop new technologies
• Educate highly skilled work force to apply new
  technologies
• Motivates the next generation of researchers
• Turn out a continuous stream of new products
  services
• Advance our economy

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Success Story

• International
• Google is the outcome academic research.
• Microsoft, IBM, HP, GE etc work very closely with
  universities.
• Many of Microsoft products make use of intricate
  technology.
• E.g, Machine Learning and paperclip assistant
• IBM with University of Hongkong
• E-business technology institute
• etc.

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2004

• The University of California, San Diego and ATT,
  Alcatel, Hewlett-Packard QUALCOMM establish
• Center for Networked Systems
• for developing technologies for robust, secure,
  and open networked systems

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Success Story

• National
• TCS
• IBM
• Infosys
• Microsoft
• Intel etc
• Collaborating with IITs/ ISI/ IISc etc.

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National Programmes

• National Programme on Smart Materials
• DRDO, ADA, DoS, DST, MIT and CSIR
• approx. 30-odd research efforts funded IITs,
  national labs and even smaller universities.
• 2. Development Initiative for Smart Aircraft
  Structures ADA, DRDO
• 3. CSIR - Launch largest post-Independence
  knowledge network

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Success Story

• Software developed by the National Aeronautical
  Laboratory, Bangalore, determines aircraft
  landing frequency at British airports -- India
  Today
• Most big academic institutes now also have
  specific business development wings IIT-Delhi's
  Foundation for Innovation and Technology
  Transfer, set up in 1992, was the first such wing
  at any IIT.

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Success Story

• UoH and Sierra Atlantic.
• It made the difference
• New courses are introduced
• Teachers from Industry
• Development catering to industry

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Some More

• UoH has developed a efficient TELUGU language
  technology
• OCR
• Text to Telugu speech
• Telugu speech to text
• Telugu language undestanding
• Innovative, futuristic product oriented
  investigation

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Yet another

• Intrusion Detection
• Bioinformatics
• Planning and scheduling
• Data mining and warehousing

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Friday Forum (IT CLUB)

• Networking
• IT club
• Meets once a week
• Open forum
• Identifies problem areas
• Sharing ideas
• Supported by industries and academia

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Conclusion

• Both sides realised the benefits
• Coming years will witness closer collaboration.
• It is essential for industry to tap resources at
  academics
• Academic must mold to the needs of industry.

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Thank you