Mumbai University-RGSTC Research Delivers 5 Practical Innovations, 3 Patents; ₹43.74 Lakh Funded For 10 Projects

Mumbai: The University of Mumbai on Monday announced the completion of a series of research projects undertaken in collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC), Government of Maharashtra. The joint initiative, for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in May 2022, provided a combined financial assistance of Rs 43.74 lakh to the selected research proposals.

Out of 10 research projects carried out under this collaboration, five have been successfully translated into practical technologies. Notably, three of these projects have been granted patents, and three scholarly research papers have been published.

“The initiative has impacted a wide range of beneficiaries, with 161 students and 32 faculty members directly involved in the research process,” the university said in a statement. Moreover, four farmers and five unskilled workers have also benefitted from the outcomes, it added.

Among the key projects, Dr Meenal Patil developed a portable device capable of measuring haemoglobin levels using just a drop of blood. This device has been patented and is expected to play a vital role in improving access to basic diagnostic tools in rural and resource-limited settings.

Another noteworthy innovation came from Dr Arun Chandore, who devised a method for the conservation of the rare and endangered wild jamun plant. He successfully cultivated 120 saplings and created a natural pigment from the plant to be used for cell staining. This work has also been patented.

In the realm of medical research, Dr Dilip Yadav has introduced a new method to extract camptothecin—an important compound used in cancer treatment—from the betel vine. In addition, he developed a technique for propagating the plant through tissue culture, for which a patent application has been filed.

Meanwhile, Dr Pratap Naikwade focused his efforts on environmental sustainability, developing a method to produce compost from Parthenium hysterophorus, an invasive weed. His innovation improves both the quality and texture of compost, offering a sustainable solution to weed management and soil enrichment.

Addressing the critical issue of renewable energy, Dr Sapna Jadhav successfully created a catalyst that enables the production of hydrogen fuel from water through an efficient decomposition process. This innovation holds promise in the field of green energy solutions. Similarly, Dr Rohan Gawankar has made strides in sustainable manufacturing by developing natural dyes derived from fungi. As demand for eco-friendly dyes grows across various industries, this research is expected to have significant commercial and environmental implications.

These research projects are the result of an MoU between MU and RGSTC on May 25, 2022. The agreement aimed to promote innovation-driven, socially relevant research in the districts of Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Palghar, which fall under the university’s jurisdiction.

Proposals were invited from affiliated college faculty through the Department of Student Development. A total of 190 initial proposals were received—18 from Sindhudurg, 66 from Ratnagiri, and 105 from Palghar.

The university formed an expert committee on July 20, 2022 to evaluate the proposals in accordance with RGSTC guidelines. After a thorough review process, 22 proposals were shortlisted and presented to the Project Evaluation Committee, which selected 10 projects for funding. These selected projects received a combined financial assistance of Rs43.74 lakh.

The RGSTC initiative specifically targeted research themes relevant to local contexts such as agriculture, tourism, environmental sustainability, disaster preparedness, natural resource utilisation, the impact of climate change on farming, water management, fisheries, horticultural processing, and the associated marketing infrastructure.

The participating researchers represented a diverse array of institutions including Bhaskar Waman Thakur College, Virar; Justice Tatysaheb Athalye College, Devrukh; Govindrao Nikam College of Pharmacy, Savarde; Sonopant Dandekar College, Palghar, among others.

Vice-Chancellor of MU, Professor Ravindra Kulkarni, lauded the accomplishments of the researchers and expressed hope that “the outcomes would play a vital role in improving human welfare” and making everyday life more sustainable and convenient.