Isro to help VSSUT set up space innovation centre
Sambalpur: The Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for establishment of a space technology innovation centre at the premier technology university. It will be the first of its kind in the country, said a VSSUT official.
The MoU was signed during a virtual ceremony in presence of chairman, Isro, Dr K Sivan, director, capacity building programme officer (Isro) P V Venkitakrishna, secretary, skill development and technical education, Odisha, Sanjay Singh and vice-chancellor of the VSSUT, Atal Chaudhuri.
Sivan said he has a great hope that the VSSUT space innovation centre would promote advanced space knowledge among the students and create conducive space culture in India. He also expressed hopefulness that the students would be more interested for space research and application in future.
The Isro had announced to set up the space innovation centre on the premises of VSSUT in January last year. The Isro will release Rs 50 lakh for the development of the space technology innovation centre at VSSUT. The centre will function in the third floor of the new building, where the incubation centre of the university is functioning. Necessary equipment will be procured for setting up the centre there. Once completed, Isro will also start giving projects to the students. The centre will also pave the way for new start-ups in space technology, said a VSSUT official.
Chaudhuri said, “It is a joint venture of VSSUT and Isro. Isro is now planning to expand its laboratory beyond its office. And the space technology centre at VSSUT is a part of the plan. The space technology centre at VSSUT will be a first of its kind in India.”