Department of Bio-Sciences Hosts “Igniting Young Minds 4.0” Under Vikasit Bharat @2024 Initiative

The Department of Bio-Sciences successfully organised its annual flagship event, Igniting Young Minds 4.0, on May 17, 2024, in alignment with the Amrit Kaal Vimarsh initiative under the Vikasit Bharat @2024 agenda. The event centered on the theme, “Bolstering National Economy through Innovative Entrepreneurship.”

The programme commenced with an inaugural address by Dr. Probin Phanjom, Head of the Department of Bio-Sciences, who welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives of the Igniting Young Minds initiative. He highlighted the department’s continued efforts to inspire students towards biosciences education and career pathways, while also contextualising this year’s theme within the broader national vision of fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Dr. Phanjom subsequently introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Supriyo Sen, Assistant Professor in the department.

Dr. Sen delivered an engaging and insightful interactive lecture, focusing on the role of innovation in strengthening the national economy, particularly through the growth of the bioeconomy and biotechnology startups. He elaborated on the significance of translating academic research into entrepreneurial ventures and shared his personal experience as a co-founder of a biotech startup that emerged as a spin-off from academic research.

The session witnessed active participation from 32 students of the Department of Bio-Sciences, all of whom expressed keen interest in bio-entrepreneurship. The lecture concluded with a dynamic interactive segment, during which students raised pertinent questions related to intellectual property rights (IPR), startup funding mechanisms, and registration processes.

The event served as a valuable platform for students to gain practical insights into the intersection of biosciences and entrepreneurship, reinforcing the department’s commitment to nurturing innovation-oriented thinking among young scholars.