Hyderabad:Scientific research must translate into indigenous technologies and practical solutions to address the country’s needs, former DRDO chief and NITI Aayog member Dr V.K. Saraswat said at Osmania University on Saturday. He urged young researchers to align their academic work with national priorities and focus on developing homegrown technologies. He called for sustained innovation, perseverance and interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen India’s technological self-reliance.

Addressing the valedictory session of Anveshan 2026, the South Zone Student Research Convention, Dr Saraswat also encouraged young researchers to move beyond traditional academic boundaries and pursue interdisciplinary work, arguing that innovation must lead to technologies with real-world applications. Drawing on his experience in defence research and strategic technology development, he stressed the need to convert scientific knowledge into indigenous solutions capable of strengthening the country's technological capabilities.

The two-day convention, jointly organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Osmania University, brought together 788 student researchers from 20 universities across South India. Students presented research projects, working prototypes and interdisciplinary solutions spanning basic sciences, engineering, healthcare, agriculture, social sciences, robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing. The diversity of subjects reflected efforts to connect academic research with challenges beyond the classroom, with presentations and demonstrations spread across seven broad research domains.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram urged students to take their work beyond conference presentations and explore pathways to transform their ideas into viable solutions. “A research paper earns recognition while a research solution earns true relevance,” he said.

He encouraged students to utilise university incubation centres, government innovation programmes, angel investors and venture capital networks to convert promising research into entrepreneurial ventures. The true value of the convention, he said, lay not merely in awards but in the analytical skills, professional networks and ideas that students carried back to their institutions.

Dr Bhaskar Rao Venepalli, president and CEO of CiVentiChem, spoke on the importance of linking academic research with industry to ensure innovations are both commercially viable and socially relevant. Dr Amarendra Pani, Joint Director and Director (in-charge) of the AIU Research Division, said such platforms helped identify emerging research talent and provided students opportunities to interact with experts.

The convention concluded with participants being encouraged to take their research beyond academic presentations and work towards solutions with wider social applications.

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