The CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), in collaboration with CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur; CSIR-NGRI, Hyderabad; and CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, hosted a Stakeholder Conclave on Ecology, Environment, Earth, Ocean Sciences & Water (E3OW). The event, organised in a hybrid mode, was held at the CSIR-NIO, Dona Paula, Goa, as a part of the ‘One Week One Theme’ campaign of the CSIR, which aims to showcase and strengthen research and technological advancements aligned with national priorities.
The event brought together industry representatives, academic partners, and research scientists to foster collaborations and advance research and development (R&D) initiatives. The inaugural session was chaired by Dr. Atul Vaidya, Director, CSIR-NEERI, and Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh, Director, CSIR-NIO, alongside Dr. Prakash Kumar, Director, CSIR-NGRI, and Dr. Kannan Srinivasan, Director, CSIR-CSMCRI. The leaders emphasized the critical role of stakeholder engagement in developing impactful technologies and achieving the Government of India’s Vikasit Bharat 2047 vision.
A significant highlight of the conclave was the signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement between CSIR-NIO and The Kelp Agro & Minerals, Raigad, to develop Type II collagen from jellyfish. This pioneering technology, developed by Dr. Supriya Tilvi and her team at CSIR-NIO, offers promising applications in biomedicine and nutraceuticals.
The second session featured detailed presentations from participating CSIR institutes:
• CSIR-NIO: Dr. Sanil Kumar provided an overview of the institute’s R&D services, followed by Dr. Prakash Mehra’s insights on marine robotics, and Dr. Narsinh Thakur’s updates on sustainable marine biotechnology initiatives.
• CSIR-NEERI: Dr. M.P. Patil shared technologies addressing environmental challenges.
• CSIR-NGRI: Dr. EVSSK Babu presented advanced geophysical technologies, with Shri S.K. Saxena, Executive Director of NPCIL, expressing appreciation for CSIR-NGRI’s contributions to nuclear energy projects.
• CSIR-CSMCRI: Dr. Puyam Singh highlighted water-sector innovations, and Dr. Soumya Haldar discussed achievements in marine environmental research.
The event concluded with an interactive session where stakeholders provided valuable feedback, fostering collaboration opportunities between academia, industry, and research institutions. Dr. Rahul Kaushik, CSIR-NIO, summarized the proceedings and the sessions were hosted by Dr. Tanuja Nigam, CSIR-NIO. The conclave was coordinated by Dr. Sanil Kumar, Chief Scientist & Head, Business Development Group, CSIR-NIO, and Dr. Narsinh L. Thakur, Senior Principal Scientist & Head, Chemical Oceanography Division, CSIR-NIO.
The conclave demonstrated the CSIR’s dedication to leveraging scientific innovation for societal benefit, reinforcing India’s journey toward sustainable development under the ‘One Week One Theme’ campaign.
