Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Inaugurates Advanced Research Facility, Tech Innovation Forum

TEN NEWS NETWORK

National News (04 September 2026): Vice-President of India and Ex-officio Chancellor of Panjab University, C. P. Radhakrishnan, on Friday inaugurated the Advanced Instrumentation Facility at the Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility/Central Instrumentation Laboratories (SAIF/CIL) and the Panjab University Tech Innovation Forum (PU-TIF) in Chandigarh.

The newly inaugurated facilities are expected to strengthen Panjab University’s research, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by providing advanced scientific instrumentation, incubation support and opportunities for collaboration between researchers, startups and industry.

Addressing the gathering, Vice-President Radhakrishnan highlighted Panjab University’s rich institutional legacy dating back to 1882 and its contribution to nation-building through generations of scientists, jurists, sportspersons, public servants and other distinguished personalities.

He said that India’s higher education and scientific research landscape has undergone significant transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the country increasingly establishing itself as a global destination for quality education, research and innovation.

Five Advanced Scientific Instruments Added to Research Infrastructure

Describing the inaugurations as significant milestones for the university, the Vice-President said the Advanced Instrumentation Facility will enhance the institution’s scientific research capabilities.

The facility has been equipped with five advanced instruments — Atomic Force Microscope, Raman Spectrometer, DNA Sequencer, Flow Cytometer and FTIR Spectrometer.

According to the Vice-President, these instruments will support research across several important areas, including nanotechnology, materials science, environmental science and genomics, while enabling researchers to undertake sophisticated analytical and experimental studies.

PU-TIF to Strengthen Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Radhakrishnan also underlined the importance of creating stronger links between academic research and commercial innovation.

He noted that the transformation of Bio-NEST into the Panjab University Tech Innovation Forum (PU-TIF) as a Section 8 not-for-profit company provides a new institutional framework for promoting research, entrepreneurship and technology development.

He emphasised that innovation can flourish when universities, industries, incubators and investors work together and create an ecosystem in which promising ideas can move from laboratories to real-world applications.

Addressing young researchers, the Vice-President encouraged them to pursue science with a clear social purpose and remain resilient in the face of setbacks and failures.

He called upon students and researchers to develop innovations that are inclusive, scalable and focused on addressing real-world challenges, stressing that scientific research should ultimately create meaningful benefits for society.

Vice President Calls for Campus-Wide Safety Measures

Campus safety also featured prominently in the Vice-President’s address.

Referring to the unfortunate death of a Ph.D. student, Radhakrishnan said he had immediately directed the university authorities to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of the entire campus.

He informed that an internal committee has been constituted to examine the existing safety infrastructure and submit a detailed report.

The Vice-President stressed that the safety and well-being of students and staff must remain the university’s highest priority.

Students Urged to Support ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’

Radhakrishnan also appealed to students to stay away from substance abuse and contribute towards building a “Nasha Mukt Bharat.”

He urged young people to not only avoid drugs themselves but also encourage their family members and friends to stay away from substance abuse.

Call to Make Panjab University a World-Class Institution

Concluding his address, the Vice-President expressed confidence that the new scientific facilities and PU-TIF would further enhance Panjab University’s contribution to research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He urged faculty members and students to ensure that ideas emerging from classrooms and laboratories are translated into new opportunities for young people and solutions for society.

He further called for collective efforts from the entire university community to advance the vision of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Radhakrishnan also invited suggestions from students, faculty and other members of the university community on measures that could help transform Panjab University into a world-class institution for higher education and research.

Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh U.T. Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Haryana Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Lok Sabha MP Manish Tiwari, Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Professor Meenakshi Goyal and other dignitaries were present during the programme.