Aman Sandhu/Chandigarh 

Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, celebrated its commitment to research excellence and innovation on Tuesdayat the prestigious IP Award Ceremony by honouring the top five patents fetched by PU inventors in financial year 2023-24.

In an event inaugurated by PU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig, the university recognised the outstanding achievements of its faculty in the field of intellectual property. Highlighting the importance of intellectual property rights and entrepreneurship, the ceremony honored inventors who have contributed to technological advancements across various domains. With 45 patents secured in 2023-24, PU continues to position itself as a leader in research and innovation, fostering an environment that bridges academia and industry.

Congratulating the scientists of the University for their achievements, PU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig appreciated the PU scientists for their exceptional work and acknowledged their significant contributions to advancing knowledge and technology.

Congratulating the scientists of the University for their achievements, PU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig appreciated the PU scientists for their exceptional work and acknowledged their significant contributions to advancing knowledge and technology.She further emphasised the importance of creating a creative environment for research and urged the university community to embrace entrepreneurship and intellectual property rights as key drivers of progress.

She encouraged the faculty to actively pursue patent filing, underlining its importance in achieving top rankings and reinforcing the university's position as a hub of innovation and research excellence.

Earlier, the ceremony began with a presentation by the Director of CIIPP, Prof. Manu Sharma, providing an overview of the university's IPR policy, Entrepreneurship policy, and Consultancy rules. Prof. Sharma outlined the IPR policy for joint ownership of intellectual property between Panjab University and its inventors.

Additionally, the Entrepreneurship policy was introduced to support faculty members involved in start-ups. He further detailed the initiatives of the DST-Technology Enabling Centre (TEC), which serves as a bridge between academia and industry, providing support for turning research findings into marketable technologies. TEC has organized multiple conferences to promote technology transfer across diverse sectors of industry.

Additionally, TEC continues to provide industry consultancy by visiting tech-intensive industries and collecting their major pain points. This repository allows the development and execution of precision projects to solve industrial issues by domain experts in the University, as well as affiliated colleges and institutes. Moreover, TEC is nurturing budding start-ups through targeted mentoring and providing opportunities for strategic investments by organizing an Investor Summit in March 2025.

The highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of inventors at Panjab University, who were awarded the first five patents of the 2023-2024 financial year. The university took great pride in honoring these outstanding scientists for their pioneering work. The following inventors were recognised for their exceptional contributions:

Prof. Indu Pal Kaur, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), was acknowledged for her patent on a probiotic formulation with low water activity for topical application. This technology provides preservative-free, probiotic-based skin and vaginal health solutions. It offers a cream for skin issues and suppositories for infections, overcoming limitations of current treatments.

On the other hand, Prof. Rohit Sharma, Department of Microbial Biotechnology,was honored for his groundbreaking patent on an apparatus designed for the efficient growth of microbial cultures at high temperatures. The apparatus combines an incubator and shaker, preventing media drying and charring caused by evaporation. By controlling vapor pressure, it reduces evaporation, eliminating the need for frequent media replenishment during prolonged culturing. This innovation offers an efficient and reliable solution for biotechnology applications.

Meanwhile, Prof. Maninder Karan and Prof. Karan Vasisht, UIPS, were acknowledged for their joint patent on the process of preparing a Nano-formulation for the delivery of berbamine, a promising compound for therapeutic applications. This innovative formulation enhances the bioavailability and efficacy of berbamine, making it a more effective treatment option for various medical conditions.

In a related advancement, Prof. Parveen Rishi, Department of Microbiology and Prof. Rupinder Tewari, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, were recognized for their joint patent on a synthetic peptide antigen and its application for the detection of salmonellosis. The novelty of the patent is the unique antigenic peptide used for detection of enteric infection caused by a bacterium Salmonella. The detection process is based on immunogenic reaction and is highly specific as well as sensitive compared to existing techniques.

Additionally, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur and Prof. Ganga Ram Chaudhary, Department of Chemistry, were honored for their patent on Nano-functionalized natural fiber that demonstrates improved photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties, a significant step forward in the development of sustainable materials.By synthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods on natural fibers from Sansevieria trifasciata, this innovation enhances the fibers' ability to purify air and water, degrade organic pollutants, and combat bacteria like MRSA. The functionalized fibers are lightweight, biodegradable, recyclable, and offer sustainable solutions for environmental, biomedical, and smart textile applications, marking a significant advancement in the development of eco-friendly materials.

These innovations reflect the dedication of the inventors to advancing technology in their respective fields, contributing to sustainable solutions, improved healthcare, and efficient biotechnological processes.

The ceremony concluded with an interactive session with the Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Renu Vig. The conversation focused on how the university can further strengthen its research ecosystem, provide greater support to its faculty, and ensure its scientific and technological advancements. The session also explored opportunities for expanding collaborations with industry partners.

This event marked a significant milestone for Panjab University as it continues to nurture a vibrant culture of research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.