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SRMIST Weightlifters Secure Silver at Inter-University NationalsSTAFF WRITERSRM Institute of Science and Technology recorded a commendable showing at the All India Inter-University Weightlifting Championships held in Chandigarh, with its athletes delivering strong performances against top university lifters from across the country. In the men%u2019s 60 kg category, Mr. P. Mahendra, a second-year B.Sc. Physical Education student secured a Silver Medal through a composed and technically sound performance. The women%u2019s 69 kg category saw another podium finish for SRMIST, with Mrs. C. Harshika, a first-year B.Com student, earning a Silver Medal. Enhancing Employability: SRM%u2019s Industry Tie-Up with Sony India Pvt. Ltd.STAFF WRITERSRM Institute of Science and Technology, Vadapalani, in collaboration with its Faculty of Science and Humanities, Department of Visual Communication, has entered into a strategic partnership with Sony India Pvt. Ltd. through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This significant collaboration marks a milestone in strengthening industry-academia relations, aimed at equipping students with comprehensive hands-on industry exposure. The partnership will facilitate specialized training programs, interactive workshops, valuable internship opportunities, and dynamic knowledge-sharing initiatives. SRMIST Advances Research Commercialization with`1-Crore Solar Technology Licensing AgreementSTAFF WRITERSRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has licensed a patented solar cell encapsulant technology to Chennai-based specialty materials manufacturer Anabond Limited. The licensing agreement includes an upfront payment of `1 crore for the patented technology, along with a seven-year royalty arrangement linked to the commercial turnover of products based on the technology. Dr. P. Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor (Academics), SRMIST, described the partnership as an important step toward aligning academic research with industry needs and national priorities. %u201cUniversities must move beyond knowledge dissemination to knowledge creation%u2014and ultimately to translating that knowledge into real-world solutions,%u201d he said.He noted that while universities traditionally focus on education and placements, research becomes truly meaningful when it leads to practical technologies that benefit society. Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor of SRMIST, described the agreement as the culmination of a long institutional journey from academic teaching toward research-driven innovation. The university c u r r e n t l y r e c e i v e s around`35 crore annually in research funding across domains including energy, environment, healthcare, water technologies, and disruptive innovations.Dr. Shantanu Patil, Director of the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (DEI), SRMIST, explained that the university has established structured mechanisms to support intellectual property development, startup incubation, and technology commercialization. The licensed technology was developed by Prof. K. Ananthanarayanan and his research team from the Department of Chemistry, SRMIST, who have been working on advanced materials for solar energy systems.Explaining the significance of encapsulation technology, Prof. Ananthanarayanan said that while solar cells are becoming increasingly efficient, they remain highly sensitive to environmental conditions such as ultraviolet radiation, moisture, dust, and temperature fluctuations.%u201cEncapsulants protect solar modules from ultraviolet radiation, moisture, dust, and environmental stress. When panels are expected to operate for 25 to 30 years, the reliability of this protective material becomes critical,%u201d he said. To illustrate the concept, he compared encapsulation to the protective glass used for smartphone displays. %u201cJust as tempered glass protects a phone screen, encapsulation materials protect solar cells and ensure that they continue to function reliably throughout their lifetime,%u201d he explained. Mr. M. Rajan, Managing Director of Anabond Limited, said the company has built its growth on a strong foundation of research and development combined with the ability to scale laboratory innovations into commercial products.%u201cThis technology has strong potential for the future, and we are proud to partner with SRMIST in taking this innovation toward commercialization,%u201d he said. %u201cUniversities are hubs of innovation and new technologies. Partnering with industry enables these innovations to move from laboratory research to production scale, ultimately benefiting society and contributing to economic growth,%u201d he said. %u201cThe partnership between SRM Institute of Science and Technology and Anabond Limited will certainly contribute to technological advancement and economic growth, while supporting the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,%u201d he added. SRMIST Pro Chancellor (Academics) Dr. P. Sathyanarayanan, Prof.C.Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor of SRMIST, Prof. K. Ananthanarayanan, Mr. M. Rajan, Managing Director of Anabond Limited, SRMIST Registrar Dr. S. Ponnusamy and Dr. Shantanu Patil, (DEI), SRMIST.2026 | Spectrum | Volume 19 Number 2 3