Mangaluru : Universities should set up innovation centres to transform their laboratory-level researches into technology and products, Ramachandra Rao M.S., professor, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), said here on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural session of a three-day conference on ‘physics of materials and nanotechnology’ organised by the Department of Physics, Mangalore University, he said that the IIT-M has now set up a research park with the same intention.

He said that India is the third country to publish the highest level of research papers in reputed journals. The country’s scientists are recognised abroad with great respect. The country should keep up its scientific heritage.

Hence the researches done in laboratories of the universities should be transformed to industries to make them useful to the society.

Prof. Rao said that the country is witnessing a reverse brain drain now.

The professor said that nanoscience has removed barriers among the branches of science. It has paved the way for inter-disciplinary area of research. “We have talents. Opportunities are needed for them to convert their knowledge and make it useful to society,” he said.

Mr. Rao asked students to take up a career close to their heart.

J.S. Bhat, Director, Indian Institute of Information and Technology (IIIT), Surat, who inaugurated the conference, said that the country has emerged as self sufficient in research on nano technology.

P.S. Yadapadithaya, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University, said that the output of research is not important but the outcome is.

Acknowledging the lack of thrust for patents that resulted in low rating score in the innovation category in the Karnataka State University Rating Framework (KSURF) released by the Karnataka State Higher Education Council under the Department of Higher Education on Tuesday, the V-C said that the university would set up a Patent Cell. The cell would the help faculty in filing of patent. The university would support the teachers technically and financially in it, he said.