JAMMU: Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET) organized its annual Research Awards function at Kot Bhalwal campus felicitating its faculty members who have excelled in Research and Development.

Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Umesh Rai was the chief guest on the occasion.The other dignitaries present on the occasion were Prof. Ankur Gupta, Director, MIET, Prof. S.K Sharma Advisor to Chairperson MIER, Prof. G.S. Sambyal Advisor to Chairperson MIER, Prof. B.C Sharma, Dean Training and Placement, Prof. Devanand Padha, Ajay Khajuria, Professor of Practice and Prof. Sahil Sawhney, General Manager Strategic Initiatives.

The research awards at MIET serve to recognize the achievements of the faculty members in the field of Research and Development. This year over 45 faculty members were felicitated at the function for producing quality research outcomes.

Prof. Ankur Gupta, Director MIET, delivered the welcome address and presented the research report. He informed the audience that since the last Research Awards held in early 2023, MIET faculty have published 158 research papers in international journals, conferences, and book chapters, with 153 indexed in Scopus and 98 in SCI/SCI-E/ESCI indexed journals.

Additionally, 23 patents were filed during this period, bringing the total number of patents filed to 54, while 19 patents have been granted, taking the total to 21 granted patents. He also highlighted that MIET secured a research grant of Rs. 26.72 lakhs from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, under the Accelerated Research on 6G Ecosystem initiative. During 2023-24 the institution awarded Seed Grants worth Rs. 25 lakhs to eleven faculty-led projects.

He further informed the audience that MIET is in the process of establishing state-of-the-art laboratories for advanced research in Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Semiconductors, Drones, and Electric Vehicles.

Finally, two startups by MIET faculty and students SeeDoAI Technologies (a Computer Vision and Robotic Process Automation company for automating processes in large campuses) and PetPulse Tech (A Pet Lifecycle Management company using injectable RFID tags and blockchain network for immutability) have been registered and are in advanced prototyping stage.

Speaking on the occasion Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Umesh Rai talked about India's need for igniting the imagination of its youth in Universities and colleges to attain transformative innovation, research and development.

Prof Umesh Rai quoted extensively from his vast experiences instances where encouraging the right people and equipping them with the right resources led to significant research outcomes. Prof. Rai stressed upon the importance of initiatives like Research Awards to boost the research and development activities at the institution level.

He further appreciated the dynamic leadership of Prof. Ankur Gupta, Director MIET for the overall development of the institution and especially in the area of IPR, innovation, research and development. He also exhorted the faculty members to solve problems in the local context of Jammu.

He coined the term "Jammu-riyat" to reflect a focus on achieving regional excellence through collective pride and shared responsibility. The Chief Guest later handed out certificates and monetary incentives to the awardees and posed with the group photograph.

The event was seamlessly coordinated by Arushi Gupta, Assistant Professor.