NITK, KCCI organise awareness programme on MSME Design Scheme

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Mangaluru : An awareness programme on the MSME Design Scheme was held on March 7, 2026, at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mangaluru, bringing together MSMEs, industry representatives, academicians and officials to highlight the role of design-led innovation in strengthening manufacturing enterprises. The programme was sponsored by Ministry of MSME and it was organised by the Centre for System Design (CSD), National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, in association with KCCI, Mangaluru.

Centred on the theme “Design for Manufacturing” the event aimed to create greater awareness among micro, small and medium enterprises about the value of design in improving product performance, production efficiency, cost competitiveness and innovation.

Delivering the presidential address, Shri P. B. Ahmed Mudassar, President of KCCI, stressed the importance of stronger industry-institution collaboration in promoting entrepreneurship and supporting regional businesses. He observed that MSMEs form the backbone of India’s economy and said innovation and modern design practices are essential for enterprises to remain competitive in a changing market. MSMEs need to stay closely associated with institutes of national importance such as NITK to foster continuous collaboration, allowing them to design and develop products by leveraging the technical expertise and infrastructure available at these institutions.

A major highlight of the programme was the session by Dr. Bijuna C. Mohan, Coordinator for the MSME Implementing Agency initiative at NITK, who explained the institute’s role under the MSME Design Scheme. She outlined how NITK can support MSMEs through technical guidance, design mentoring and professional expertise, while also highlighting the role of product and packaging design in improving branding, usability and market reach. The session also pointed to key challenges faced by MSMEs, including limited design awareness, inadequate technical support and difficulty in translating ideas into market-ready products.

Prof. K. V. Gangadharan, coordinator of the Centre for System Design (CSD), NITK, spoke on engineering design and its application in industrial production. He discussed the design lifecycle from concept generation and product development to manufacturing and commercialisation, while also highlighting the interdisciplinary work being carried out by CSD in collaboration with industry.

Shri Vedha Prakash, DesignerAktis Engineering Solutions Banglore,delivered a session on the “Power of Design: Transforming MSMEs.” Drawing from industry experience, he explained how engineers and designers can work together to create efficient, cost-effective and innovative products. He emphasised design optimisation, material selection, prototyping and value engineering as important tools for improving product performance and manufacturability.

An informative session was delivered by Ms. Sruthi G. K., Assistant Director, Br. MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Mangaluru, who briefed participants on various Ministry of MSME initiatives, with particular emphasis on the MSME Innovative Scheme and the opportunities available under its design component.

The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, reflecting strong interest among participants in adopting design as a tool for innovation and competitiveness. Dr. Rahul Sivarajan, Coordinator, Design Awareness Program, NITK, proposed the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the dignitaries, speakers, organisers, students and participating MSMEs for contributing to the success of the event.