By AIT Public Affairs
15 February 2024: Prof. Siddharth Jabade, Vice Chancellor of Vishwakarma University (VU), India, visited AIT President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto on 14 February for a courtesy meeting to discuss potential collaborations. During his visit, Prof. Jabade also delivered a seminar on “Navigating the Quadruple Helix for Innovation and Impact” to the AIT community. The partnership between AIT and VU dates back to 2008.
Prof. Yamamoto expressed immense pride in the longstanding partnership with VU, highlighting the remarkable outcomes and recognition. He emphasized AIT’s readiness to extend collaboration across various academic and research fronts, anticipating more collaborative ventures and a more significant impact together.
Prof. Jabade echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the impactful outcomes achieved through joint efforts, including the granting of patents and the implementation of technologies. He expressed eagerness for continued collaboration, particularly in nurturing student programs and co-creating technologies.
Prof. Jabade also held meetings with various AIT officials, including Mr. Russell Bruce Rein, Vice President for Administration; Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, Professor at Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) program and Co-Director of the Global Water and Sanitation Center (GWSC); Prof. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Head of the Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS); Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director of International Affairs, and Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration, highlighting student exchanges, and working together on projects that positively impact society and the environment. They emphasized the need to invest in partnerships to make significant changes. Furthermore, the officials also acknowledged the strength of the academic-industry-government group, noting more than ten years of collaboration in technological development. A new partnership model was suggested for more societal benefits, suggesting potential future collaborations in student programs, faculty exchanges, and joint research.
The officials also discussed the success of past collaborations, notably AIT’s partnership with Prashak Techno Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. to implement Construction and Sanitation technologies in India and other nations. This collaboration was formalized with an MOU signed in August 2014, aimed at deploying and spreading these technologies in India and other developing countries. Facilitated by Prof. Siddharth Jabade’s strategic input, the partnership resulted in the grant of Indian patents. The strategy conceptualization and development activities at AIT involved Professor Jabade, Dr. Praful R. Naik, Director & CEO of Prashak, AIT management, and faculty members, including the then President Prof.Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Prof. Thammarat, former Vice President for Knowledge Transfer (VPKT) Dr. Naveed Anwar, and former Director of the AIT Habitech Center Mr. Gyanendra Sthapit. Despite challenges, including COVID-19, Prashak persevered and achieved further milestones, such as empanelment with TCIL and pursuing deployments in Timor-Leste.
Prof. Jabade also delivered a seminar on “Navigating the Quadruple Helix for Innovation and Impact” to the AIT community. He shared insights into the dynamic interplay of academia, industry, government, and social institutions. The talk explored successful case studies and transformative journeys in ideation-to-impact. Prof. Jabade cited case studies from VU’s Inclusive Participatory Development Model, which was recognized by the Times Higher Education (THE) when VU was bestowed with the prestigious THE Asia Awards 2023 under the “Leadership and Management Team of Year Award” in Japan last year.
With fruitful discussions on further collaboration, Prof. Jabade’s return to AIT was warmly welcomed. His crucial role in AIT’s intellectual property policy and patent filings for construction and sanitation technologies was acknowledged, highlighting the successful outcomes achieved with his expertise. The visit concluded with a positive outlook for future collaborations and continued success in driving innovation and societal impact.
