The event highlighted student innovation, faculty-led patents, and stronger ties with industry.
Shoolini University marked the fourth edition of its Innovation Day with a strong emphasis on cultivating a culture of patents and original thinking. Organised by Shoolini University’s Intellectual Property Rights Office (SIPRO), the event brought together academic leaders, researchers, and IP experts to celebrate creativity and innovation on the campus.
Themed around the bold vision of ‘One Student, One Patent’, the event showcased Shoolini’s growing focus on building an innovation-led research ecosystem.
SIPRO Director Dinesh Chatanta opened the event with a welcome address, highlighting the need for robust IPR cells in Indian universities. He shared that Shoolini now has an in-house patent filing team and is actively encouraging students to take their ideas forward.
Delivering the keynote, Vice Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla said, “Innovation needs ideas, not money. Great innovations are born from great ideas.” He spoke about the power of collaboration, experimentation, and the willingness to take risks.
Pro Chancellor Vishal Anand emphasised the link between research, learning, and real-world impact. “We are ready to fund students and researchers who want to innovate and file patents,” he said, reinforcing Shoolini’s backing for IP creation.
Chancellor Prof PK Khosla spoke about expanding the vision beyond students. “One Teacher, One Patent per year — that’s what we should aim for,” he said, encouraging faculty to translate their ideas into patents.
Guest speaker Prof Sanjay Sandhu, Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, urged students to act on their ideas. “Every great invention starts with a simple idea. It’s the courage to act on that idea that sets true innovators apart,” he said.
Prof Manu Sharma, Coordinator, TEC, Panjab University, spoke about the role of industry collaboration in the IPR ecosystem. He was joined by Prof Rupinder Tiwari, Mentor, TEC, who highlighted the importance of Technology Enabling Centres in bridging academia and industry.
Chief guest Prof C Raman Suri, Chairman, Management Committee of TEC, Panjab University, spoke about India’s legacy of innovation from the Vedic period to the present. “In today’s era, nothing is impossible if you pursue your ideas with passion,” he said, while calling for more community-oriented innovation.
The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony and a vote of thanks by SIPRO Senior Manager Himanshu Sharma, who acknowledged the collective efforts of the team that made the event possible.
SIPRO, established in 2015 and transitioning into an entirely in-house model in 2021, currently has a team of nine professionals managing the university’s IP needs. These include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs. The office also hosts summer patent schools, supports commercialisation efforts, and collaborates closely with young researchers across various disciplines.
June 10, 2025