Two day workshop focuses on research awareness funding and innovation.
Surat: Sarvajanik University’s Research and Development Cell (SU-RDC) organized a two-day workshop on “R&D Awareness and Capacity Building” on January 5 and 6, 2026. The main objective of the workshop was to spread awareness about research and development and to strengthen research capabilities among academicians, research scholars, students, and industry professionals.
The workshop began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. The inaugural session was graced by Sarvajanik University President Shri Ashish Vakil, Provost Dr. Kiran Pandya, and Director of STPL (Sahajanand Technologies Private Limited) Shri Rahul Gaywala as chief guests. The dignitaries emphasized the importance of research-based education and the need to build a strong R&D culture within universities.
In the first technical session, Prof. Arnav Bhavsar from the School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, IIT Mandi, provided detailed guidance on the R&D process, project proposal preparation, various funding sources, and available research resources.
Prof. Dr. Vijay Kothari from the Faculty of Science, Nirma University, spoke about how to prepare research grant proposals, the expectations of funding agencies, and key elements of successful proposals. Prof. Dr. Devarshi Gajjar from the Department of Microbiology, M.S. University, shared practical insights into research proposal writing and the submission process.
Dr. (Er.) Anish Gandhi, Founder of IP Secure Services, delivered a session on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), patent filing, technology transfer, and protecting research outcomes.
Prof. Dr. Dhiren Patel from SVNIT, Surat, highlighted opportunities and challenges in deep-tech innovation in India.
From industry, Mr. Ankur Raval, Assistant Vice President, and Mr. Parth Nayak, Senior Manager at Sahajanand Medical Technologies, explained the Production Life Cycle, using stent manufacturing as a practical example. Prof. Dr. Harshit Dave from the Mechanical Engineering Department, SVNIT, discussed the process, scope, and approval mechanisms of research grants.
In the concluding session, Shri Rahul Gaywala, Director of Sahajanand Technologies Private Limited, shared insights on technology commercialization, licensing, and strategies for effective technology transfer.
Key topics covered during the workshop included the R&D process, sponsored and seed grant proposals, challenges in deep-tech innovation, prototype development, and validation. The workshop is expected to provide new direction and motivation to researchers and students in their research journey.
