Finland Varsity offers to set up world class research facility in Mohali

 by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, SEPT 2

OULU University- a Finland’s Technical University and globally acknowledged as a great centre of learning and research in joint collaboration with VTT Technical Research Group has approached Punjab government to set up a world class Biotech & Pharma research lab at Mohali to give a real boost to knowledge based industry in the state.

A delegation of Finland entrepreneur group headed by an Indian entrepreneur Mr. Atul Khanna last evening called on Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal with their offer to set up Rs.30 crore high-tech research and development lab at Mohali to promote R&D linkages with industry, its expansion into biotech and to explore how to use such linkages to create a light house for knowledge industry to take root in Punjab.

Interacting with them Mr. Badal said that he was envisioning Mohali as an IT, Electronic and Knowledge hub of south East Asia and he would welcome such world class research facility in the knowledge city that would provide R&D base to upcoming knowledge Industry, Pharma and Biotech sectors all over the world. He said that he would ask Punjab Technical University who was looking for a reputed knowledge partner to work out the process for joint venture with Finland.

Mr. Atul Khanna informed the Deputy Chief Minister that this world class lab would be catalytic in providing access to world class knowledge for faculty teaching and students, knowhow in translational research, knowhow for converting this research into application in Industry and Agriculture and enabling Industry and Agriculture in Punjab to adopt products and technologies generated.

They informed that this Rs.30 crore lab would be set up on a piece of land of 3 acre and the lab would be completed within 12 months.

Mr. Badal assured the Finland delegation to provide total support of Punjab government for finalization of conceptual plan of research lab at the earliest.

Prominent amongst those who participated in the meeting included Mr. Rakesh Singh, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Technical Education Mr. S.S. Channi, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. P.S. Aujla, Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy Chief Minister Mr. A.K. Mahajan and Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu.