Surathkal: Around 30 CEOs and representatives from major organisations across Mangaluru and the surrounding coastal belt participated in the Coastal Conclave held at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, on 29 November. The gathering brought together leadership from sectors including petrochemicals, fertilisers, cashew processing, fisheries, banking, real estate, academia and entrepreneurship, reflecting the region’s diverse economic landscape.
A new platform for collaboration between industries and communities
The Conclave is a new initiative of NITK aimed at fostering deeper engagement among local industries, research institutions and coastal communities. It was jointly organised by the Science & Technology Entrepreneurs’ Park (STEP), led by Prof Subray Hegde, and the Institute Innovation Council (IIC), headed by Dr K Suprabha.
The discussions centred on building a resilient coastal ecosystem and economy powered by technology, while safeguarding the region’s natural heritage and cultural identity, aligned with national missions such as Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and Sagarmala.
NITK emphasises ‘global excellence, local relevance’
Prof B Ravi, Director of NITK, outlined the institute’s vision of combining global standards with local impact. He highlighted that NITK is committed to opening its advanced facilities and technical expertise to R&D labs, startups, MSMEs, public-sector bodies and industry associations.
He noted that NITK can offer value-added services such as contract research, product innovation, pilot production, testing and characterisation, technology provision, startup incubation, business acceleration, digital transformation, skill certification and talent acquisition.
Industry-linked academic initiatives showcased
Prof Udaya Bhat, Dean (Research and Innovation), shared ongoing collaborative programmes with industry partners, including Digital Manufacturing (Siemens), Sustainable Engineering (Maire Tecnimont), Construction Technology & Management (Larsen & Toubro), and Electric Vehicles (Bosch).
Prof Prasanna Belur, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), highlighted the crucial role of alumni networks and corporate partnerships in building long-term engagement.
Community challenges and future roadmap
The discussions, moderated by Shri Niranjana Mahabalappa, President of the NITK Surathkal Alumni Association, helped identify key challenges faced by farming, fishing, food-processing and other local community sectors.
Participants unanimously welcomed the initiative and proposed developing an integrated hub for research, innovation and entrepreneurship at the NITK campus. This hub would serve academia, industry and public organisations in accelerating sustainable economic development across the coastal region.