Dhanbad: Department of Management Studies, IIT(ISM), Dhanbad conducted a seminar titled ” Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and its Application in Food Processing and Agricultural Technologies” on Monday at Conference Room, CRE Building under the project titled ” Assessing the Techno-Commercial status of TRL6 and above Technology in the Field of Food Processing and Agriculture”.
The seminar and project is sponsored by A2K+ Studies Scheme, DSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology, GOI. The seminar was an effort to bring experts from academic institutes, research organizations and technology entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture and food processing together on one platform to deliberate and discuss the issues and challenges of technology implementation in these sectors.
It also aims to create awareness regarding the need for assessing the techno-commercial status of TRL-6 and above technology in these sectors. The brainstorming sessions by experts will create a knowledge base for the implementation of these technologies in the agriculture and food processing industries. The seminar was conducted in a hybrid mode.
The Principal Investigator of the Project, Professor Shashank Bansal at the outset of the seminar outlined that the concept of TRL-6 evolved from NASA, USA and is currently used by experts to assess the technological readiness level of various innovative technologies in all sectors.
Professor Bibhas Chandra, HOD, Management Studies welcomed the participants and experts and presented the background of the Department of Management Studies. Professor Rajiv Shekhar, Director, IIT(ISM), Dhanbad highlighted the importance of technological innovations in agriculture and food processing sectors particularly in developing county like India.
He urged the experts to build affordable technology for the farmers to realize the dream of the government to double the farmer’s income in a sustainable manner. The Chief Guest, Dr Sujata Chaklanobis, Scientist-G and Head, A2K+ Studies, DSIR, GOI presented the significance of this project and highlighted the commitment of DSIR to fund such research projects for the development of the nation.
The Keynote Speaker, B Gopalakrishnan, Head, Agri-Business Startup Initiative, Samunnati Financial Intermediation and Services Private Limited, Chennai demonstrated the commercialization of innovative technology for the agriculture sector.
He discussed the importance of the Technological Readiness Level (TRL), Market Readiness Level (MRL) and Investment Readiness Level (IRL) for creating sustainable ventures in this area. The Special talk by Dr Shivnarayan Nishad, CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi focused on the status of technology readiness level of various technologies in the agricultural sector.
The experts from IIT Kharagpur; IIT Guwahati; ICAR-RCER, Ranchi; BHU, also presented the technologies developed by their institutes in these sectors.
The seminar ended with a vote of thanks by Dr Niladri Das.
