The First Academia-Industry Conclave was successfully inaugurated at Maratha Mandal Engineering College, Belagavi, with the participation of 72 industries and the presence of principals from eight other colleges.
The event featured prominent guests, including Shri Nagaraju Yadav, Maratha Mandal Board Trustee and MLC, as the Chief Guest. Shri Mohammad Roshan, Deputy Commissioner of Belagavi, and Shri Muralidhar Rao of ACE Designers, Bengaluru, graced the occasion as Guests of Honour. Shri L. S. Umesh, CEO of ACE Designers, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing collaboration between academia and industry. Shri Nagarmunolli and Shri Anand Desai represented the industry on the dais, while Dr. Rajshree Nagaraju, President of Maratha Mandal, presided over the event.
In his inaugural address, Shri Nagaraju Yadav stressed the importance of fostering strong ties between engineering colleges and industry to drive economic growth. He highlighted the need for a supportive ecosystem to promote tiny and micro-industries, which would, in turn, encourage entrepreneurship. He also called for a futuristic vision focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, envisioning Belagavi as the next AI hub after Bengaluru.
Shri Mohammad Roshan acknowledged the government’s efforts to resolve industrial challenges, particularly the scarcity of land, and lauded the college’s initiative in providing space for entrepreneurs to set up startups and industries within the campus. He described the program as an innovative way to bring industry closer to students.
Shri L. S. Umesh inspired attendees with his journey, explaining how ACE Designers grew from a small-scale operation to becoming the world’s largest CNC manufacturer. He emphasized the importance of trust between industry and academia and pledged support for Maratha Mandal’s initiative to establish industrial units on campus.
Shri Muralidhar Rao drew comparisons to China’s rapid industrial development and challenged the attendees to establish a tiny and micro-industry hub within Maratha Mandal’s campus. He emphasized the principles of partnership, reinvention, interaction, curriculum refinement, and entrepreneurship as the pillars of success.
Dr. D. G. Kulkarni announced that over 10 acres of land within the campus had been earmarked for an industrial startup hub. The college intends to provide customized infrastructure for aspiring entrepreneurs, further strengthening industry-academia collaboration. Industry representatives present at the conclave expressed keen interest in offering internships, training programs, faculty-industry interactions, and collaborative research in fields such as electronics and artificial intelligence.
Mr. Nagarmunolli addressed the growing demand for computer science professionals while underscoring the indispensable role of mechanical, electronics, and robotics engineers in industrial operations. He assured that members of the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries would support this pioneering initiative.
During the event, five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Maratha Mandal Engineering College and key industry players, including SARUS Aerospace (drone manufacturing), MARS Engineering Corporation, RIVOT EV Motors (electric vehicle manufacturing), PTP CNC Tooling, and AROMA Elephants.
In her presidential remarks, Dr. Rajshree Nagaraju encouraged industry leaders and young entrepreneurs to set up businesses on the Maratha Mandal campus, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to providing full support. She highlighted that this initiative is open to students from any institution, offering them an opportunity to “Earn and Learn.”
Dr. Nagaraju further outlined Maratha Mandal’s vision for 2031, emphasizing the goal of a “Vikasit Belagavi” (Developed Belagavi) through collaboration, commitment, and innovation in research, patents, and business development.
The conclave was supported by the esteemed members of Maratha Mandal, including Shri Laxmanrao Sainuche, Shri Ramchandrarao Modgekar, and Shri Dinkarao Oulkar. The event was anchored by Dr. Suresh Mashyal, Dr. Shubha Baravani, Prof. Chetana Bhagoji, Prof. Swati Patil, Prof. Revan, along with the dedicated staff and students of the institute.