SKUAST-K awarded E-YUVA Centre to empower youth in translational research

Srinagar, Nov 10: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST) has been awarded Empowering Youth for Undertaking Value-Added Innovative Translational Research (E-YUVA) Centre from Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Government of India.

The E-YUVA Centre at SKUAST-K will empower young researchers and entrepreneurs to lead ground-breaking translational research, particularly in biotechnology and agriculture. It will serve as a catalyst for youth-led innovation, supporting value-added research and bridging the gap between scientific discovery and market-ready solutions in Jammu and Kashmir.

The proposal for the Centre was submitted to BIRAC by the SKUAST-K Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship (SKIIE) Centre. BIRAC Panel Committee recommended the centre for SKUAST-K after a thorough screening of the proposal followed by a presentation by CEO SKIIE Centre.

Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, congratulated the SKIIE Centre team and associated faculty members for this commendable achievement. However, he cautioned them that it is a new responsibility, not just an achievement, to deliver the goals and fulfil the objectives of the Centre in consultation with BIRAC. Prof Ganai said that the centre will prove another step towards our mission to make J&K a model bio-economy state.

SKUAST-K has become the third SAU in the country to get E-YUVA Centre. The scheme provides funding support (through fellowship and research grant), technical and business mentoring, exposure to the bio-incubation model, orientation to entrepreneurial culture etc. to students at various levels, including undergraduates, post-graduates and post-doctoral. The Innovation Fellowship proposals can be submitted in any domain, including Agriculture, Secondary agriculture, Waste Management, Sanitation, Clean Energy, Healthcare, Life sciences, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Drugs, Vaccines, Drug Formulations and delivery systems, Industrial Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Artificial Intelligence/IoT/ Automation with application in any of these areas.