JAMMU: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, organised an exposure programme for 60 students and five faculty members of Government Degree College (GDC), Kargil, Ladakh, to familiarise them with scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Held under the theme ‘From Science to Start-ups’, the programme introduced the visiting students to the institute’s research infrastructure, societal initiatives and technology business incubation facilities, highlighting career opportunities beyond conventional academic and employment pathways.
Addressing the students, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu and CSIR-NBRI Lucknow, said connecting scientific institutions with society and its stakeholders was an important part of the institute’s mandate. Welcoming the delegation, he said such interactions helped young people understand how scientific research could address real-world challenges.
Dr Ahmed encouraged students to identify local problems and develop practical solutions through scientific knowledge, innovation and enterprise. He emphasised that talent and intelligence were not constrained by geography, adding that access to opportunities, exposure to advanced facilities and the willingness to pursue new ideas were crucial for young people from remote regions.
He also urged the students to remain connected with CSIR-IIIM and seek guidance from its scientists and incubation team as they explored academic and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Highlighting the institute’s societal initiatives, Dr Ahmed referred to programmes related to aromatic plants and floriculture, which link scientific research with farmers’ livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
Earlier, Dr Saurabh Saran, Principal Investigator at the BioNEST-IIIM Technology Business Incubator (TBI), welcomed the students and explained the objectives of the exposure visit. He said the programme was designed to demonstrate how concepts studied in undergraduate courses, particularly biotechnology, chemistry and physics, are applied in research laboratories and industrial processes.
Dr Saran explained various stages of scientific research, including the development and processing of plant-based products and the use of advanced analytical instruments to identify and study active compounds. He encouraged students to explore higher education and research as well as opportunities to convert scientific ideas into viable business ventures.
Dr Suphla B. Gupta, Nodal Officer for the Aroma Mission, interacted with the students and highlighted the practical applications of subjects such as physics, chemistry, biotechnology, biochemistry and agricultural sciences in aromatic plant cultivation, scientific processing and product development.
Representing GDC Kargil, Assistant Professor Mohammad Raza thanked CSIR-IIIM for organising the programme and providing students with first-hand exposure to advanced research facilities, fermentation technology and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Raza said the visit aimed to take students beyond classroom learning and familiarise them with scientific research, innovation and business incubation. He also highlighted the importance of expanding access to advanced research infrastructure and hands-on learning opportunities for students in Ladakh.
He noted that CSIR-IIIM had developed academic links with Ladakh’s higher education institutions and stressed the need to encourage students to identify challenges in their communities and work towards locally relevant solutions. He said the college would explore the possibility of organising a follow-up interaction at GDC Kargil with the institute’s support.
The programme featured sessions on the Aroma Mission and Floriculture Mission, along with a presentation on the role of CSIR-IIIM’s Technology Business Incubator in supporting start-ups in Jammu and Kashmir.
The students also visited the institute’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) facility, fermentation facility and IIIM Technology Business Incubator to gain first-hand insight into its scientific and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The exposure programme concluded with the distribution of participation certificates. Dr Vidushi Abrol, Business Manager, Technology Business Incubator, delivered the vote of thanks.
The initiative underscored CSIR-IIIM’s efforts to connect scientific research with education, innovation and entrepreneurship, while encouraging young people from Ladakh to explore new avenues for career development and locally driven enterprise.
