The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has strengthened its partnership with 92 educational institutions across the country through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), recognizing academia as a critical and non-biased stakeholder in the national standardization process. These MoUs pave the way for academic institutions to actively participate in BIS Technical Committees for the formulation of National Standards, undertake R&D projects offered by BIS, and contribute to international standardization efforts.
To further this initiative, BIS organized a convention for Deans and Heads of Departments (HoDs) of the partner institutions in the Electrical Engineering discipline. The event was held at Hotel Crowne Plaza in Kochi on the 30th and 31th of August 2024. The convention began with a welcome address by Shri. Praveen Khanna, Deputy Director General, Southern Regional Office of BIS. Academia collaboration and Overview was given by Shri. Rajeev Sharma, Deputy Director General, Standardization.
Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari, IAS, and Director General of BIS, inaugurated the program, underscoring the vital role of academia in the standardization process. He highlighted the challenges faced by BIS, such as sporadic involvement of academia in standardization, the lack of synergy between ongoing research and its relevance to standardization, and the representation of an unbiased Indian viewpoint in international standardization.
The convention brought together top academicians from the Electrical Engineering discipline, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. Shri A K Maharana, Head of the Electrotechnical Department of BIS, delivered a presentation on the overview of the standardization process. Shri. Phalendra Kumar, Scientist -C discussed about Standardization Awareness among the participants.
Technical sessions were conducted during the convention, led by Shri Abinash Bordoloi, Scientist C; and Shri Tushar Sharma, Scientist D. These sessions provided valuable insights into the technical aspects of standardization in Electrical engineering. The day concluded with a live demonstration of Digital Solutions by Shri Ritwik Anand, Scientist D, showcasing the technological advancements in standardization.
The Deans and HoDs of the partner institutions participated with great zeal and enthusiasm, contributing to vibrant discussions and exchanging ideas for future collaboration. The convention concluded on a high note with a field visit and sightseeing tour on the second day, further strengthening the bonds between BIS and the academic community.
This convention marks a significant step forward in aligning academic research with the needs of national and international standardization, ensuring that India’s standards remain at the forefront of global developments.