The BIRAC E-YUVA Centre at the Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir (KU), organised a one-day national workshop on “Beyond Laboratory: Transforming Scientific Ideas into Successful Ventures” at the Main Campus.
The workshop aimed to familiarise college students, graduates and aspiring innovators with the fundamentals of scientific entrepreneurship and equip them with the knowledge and skills required to translate laboratory research and scientific ideas into viable, market-oriented ventures.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Vice-Chancellor, KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, emphasized the importance of creating stronger linkages between scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Scientific knowledge must not remain confined to laboratories; it should be translated into solutions that address real-world challenges. By nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among our young students and researchers, we can create an ecosystem where innovative ideas are turned into meaningful ventures and contribute to the development of society,” she said.
Coordinator, BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, KU, Dr. Asif Amin, provided an overview of the Centre and its initiatives for promoting student-led innovation and entrepreneurship in biotechnology and life sciences.
Earlier, Head, Department of Biotechnology, KU, Prof. Ehtisham-ul-Haq, in his welcome address, emphasised the need to expose students and young graduates to opportunities beyond conventional academic and research pathways.
The workshop featured four technical sessions focusing on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, student-to-startup transition, life-science enterprise development, vision and business-model development, and the skills required to take scientific ideas beyond the laboratory. The sessions were led by Dr. Bhavisha Wala, Lead, Entrepreneurship Advancement Programs, C-CAMP, Bengaluru, and Dr. Nadeem Shabir, Faculty and Innovator at SKUAST-K.
The interactive sessions provided participants with practical exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship, enabling them to understand the process of developing scientific ideas into solutions with social and commercial potential.
The E-YUVA Centre was established with the support of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and commenced its operations in 2025 with the objective of nurturing young innovators, encouraging problem-solving and translating scientific ideas into viable solutions. It currently hosts five E-YUVA fellowship teams comprising 19 fellows from various colleges and universities across Kashmir and Ladakh, providing them mentorship, research support and exposure to the wider innovation ecosystem.
The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Asif Amin, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Chief Coordinator, BIRAC E-YUVA Centre, KU, Prof. Mahboob-ul-Hussain.