MUMBAI, India — At the recent summit focusing on “Shaping the Decade: Empowering Global Growth through Technology, IP, and Industry-Academia Partnerships,” industry leaders emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in leveraging technology and intellectual property (IP) to boost transformative growth globally. The event served as a platform to discuss the potential of industry-academia collaborations in advancing innovation and addressing significant challenges such as public health and sustainability.
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has been at the forefront of developing next-generation innovations that are centered on consumer needs and environmental sustainability. The company’s efforts are supported by its extensive research and development setup in India, the first and largest of its kind in the FMCG sector nationally. This facility is pivotal in fostering collaborations that span academic knowledge and practical application, focusing on areas such as problem-solving, knowledge sharing, and skill enhancement.
One of the notable endeavors undertaken by HUL is the VISION project, a comprehensive study on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy. Collaborating with multiple esteemed institutions like NCBS, IISER, and CMC Vellore, along with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, the study spanned across the initial COVID-19 waves and the subsequent Omicron variant wave. The findings, published in prominent journals including Nature Immunity and The Lancet for the 2023-24 period, have been instrumental in shaping strategies for pandemic preparedness and bolstering India’s research capabilities in novel vaccine development.
Dr. Vibhav R. Sanzgiri, Executive Director – R&D at HUL and Site Head, Unilever India R&D, highlighted these achievements during his participation in the Industry Leader’s panel at the summit. Sanzgiri, along with other distinguished panelists such as Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani; Mr. Masood Mallick, Chairman of the CII National Committee on Waste to Worth Technologies; and Mr. Shaheen Majeed, Global CEO and MD of Sabinsa, discussed the integral role of technological, intellectual, and collaborative advancements in steering India’s future.
In his address, Sanzgiri articulated HUL’s intentional approach towards selecting projects that not only promise significant social and environmental benefits but also align with the company’s innovative strategies for the future. This commitment by HUL and Unilever has been recognized as a key driver in the transition from academic theories to market-ready solutions, enhancing both societal welfare and business growth.
The summit underscored the critical need for cohesive strategies and strong partnerships between the industrial sector and academia to harness the full potential of technological advancements and intellectual property. Such collaborations are vital in addressing global challenges, ensuring sustainable development, and promoting inclusive growth.
As the world continues to navigate complex challenges, the role of such partnerships in driving innovation and economic growth becomes increasingly evident, positioning technology and intellectual capital as catalysts for global progress in the decades to come.
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