Jagan Institute of Management Studies (JIMS) participated in the online orientation session on IIC 8.0 & R&D Cell Activities for the Academic Year 2025–26, organized by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) and AICTE, on 22nd October 2025 at 4:00 PM. The session was graced by the presence of Hon’ble Chairman of AICTE, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, who addressed all IIC institutions, members, and Innovation Ambassadors. The event was moderated by Dr. Dipan Sahu, Assistant Innovation Director & Central Coordinator, MIC, AICTE. The session focused on the implementation guidelines for establishing R&D Cells in Higher Education Institutions under the IIC framework. The live stream witnessed active participation from IIC Presidents, Convenors, Innovation Ambassadors, and faculty across the country (approx.. 520 connected via Webex). Dr. Dipan Sahu elaborated on the structure and operational framework of R&D Cells, highlighting:
- Committee formation and systematic engagement of faculty and students in R&D activities.
- Dedicated R&D space and Idea-Café operationalization for fostering innovation.
- Promotion of interdisciplinary and translational research.
- Mobilization of funding and resources for institutional R&D activities.
- Performance monitoring through KPIs and benchmarking.
Additionally, the session provided an overview of the IIC 8.0 Prescribed Activities (2025–26), outlining the quarterly thrust areas:
Quarter 1: Inspiration, Motivation & Ideation
Quarter 2: Validation & Content Development
Quarter 3: Prototype, Design & Business Model Development
Quarter 4: Startup Ecosystem & Scale-Up
Institutions were guided on organizing a balanced mix of online, offline, and hybrid activities with measurable outcomes and progressive linkages across innovation stages. The session concluded with insightful remarks by Prof. T. G. Sitharam, emphasizing the importance of integrating R&D and innovation culture in higher education for India’s technological advancement.