CLASS OF ITS OWN

When Mumbai was a hot spot during the Covid-19 pandemic, IITBombay (IIT-B) came as a saviour with its world-class research. The institute developed technologies for the identification of global metabolite biomarkers in patients for targeted therapy and an incineration device for the safe disposal of masks/ gloves. Their mobile app, CORONTINE, for tracking/tracing asymptomatic carriers, was adopted in Odisha and Meghalaya, and partly by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

IIT-B developed an algorithmic protocol for pooled RT-PCR testing of samples and validated using clinical samples at various hospitals in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Its CoviDialysis portal was adopted by BMC for effective hemodialysis patient management.

Besides the health sector, IIT-B research also helped industries and businessmen. Its e-commerce software platform ‘Lokacart’ connected sellers and consumers to reduce the waiting period to buy essential items.

On the academics front in 2020-21, IIT-B introduced several postgraduate programmes in urban development, management, engineering and finance. It carried out 246 R&D-sponsored and 538 consultancy projects. The number of students graduating with PhD has gone up from 180 in 2010-11 to 381 in 2020-21.

IIT-B researchers filed 263 applications for intellectual properties in 2020-21. Around 225 industries from India and abroad approached the institute for collaborative R&D projects and consultancy services. As for placements, 570 companies registered on its job portal. The number of registered students increased by 11 per cent compared to the previous year. The salaries are four-five times the average entrylevel engineering package offered to students of other colleges in India.