On the occasion of National Science Day, in keeping with the momentum of the National Education Policy 2020’s fundamental principle of research as a corequisite for outstanding education and development, GITAM Bengaluru has inaugurated the Multidisciplinary Unit of Research on Translational Initiatives (MURTI) Research Centre. By bringing together researchers from various fields onto a common platform, MURTI aims to harness the collective expertise of researchers from varied backgrounds to tackle challenges that transcend individual disciplines.
The centre aims to address global challenges and drive innovation with 6 key focus areas spanning Basic Sciences, Mobility Technologies, Materials and Manufacturing, Communication Technologies, Agriculture Technologies, and Sensor Technologies. The MURTI Research Centre boasts 13 modern labs equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed with faculty and researchers from renowned global universities. From Drone Technologies to Quantum Infocomm, each lab is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and driving real-world impact.
The launch event witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Kota Harinarayana, Programme Director, and Chief Designer of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program, along with Christopher W. Hodges, Consul General of the U.S. Consulate in Chennai. GITAM Vice Chancellor Prof. Dayananda Siddavattam, and ProVC Bengaluru Campus Prof. KNS Acharya added prominence to the event.
Dr. Kota Harinarayana, speaking on the occasion, said, “There is a need for total rethinking about how sustainable technology must grow. I am happy GITAM has established (MURTI) in a record time. It is the right beginning with 13 areas that have been identified, and these are the areas where we make a change. Not only GITAM but also society at large will benefit. Our aim is now to connect the university with industry and the society.”
He further added “There is a need to re-engineer the engineering. It is a fundamental need. The way we generate energy, the way we store energy, the way we transmit energy, the whole thing has to be re-looked at. I believe that Mr. Christopher W. Hodges’ presence should ensure a strong collaboration between U.S. academia, U.S. industry, Indian academia, Indian industry, and, in general, the society at large.”
Vice-Chancellor, GITAM, Prof. Dayananda Siddavattam, remarked, “The university has invested Rs 100 crore to upgrade the research infrastructure and to recruit young, talented research students from across the country as MURTI Excellence fellows. Bengaluru MURTI is destined to transform into a MURTI science park to create a knowledge hub and become an epicenter to generate knowledge technologies required to aid the region’s sustainable development. The MURTI Centre will actively collaborate with world-renowned research institutes like the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCAR), and Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) and a galaxy of software and hardware industry leaders to find solutions to some of the pressing problems of modern societies. The Centre will collaborate with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, to bring AI-assisted agricultural practices to revolutionize crop protection, crop management, water conservation, and post-harvest technologies.”
GITAM Bengaluru welcomes researchers, innovators, and collaborators worldwide to join us in our mission to harness the power of multidisciplinary research to drive positive change and create a brighter future for all.
