Northern Region Science & Technology Cluster

Northern Region Science & Technology Cluster

PU – IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations (PI – RAHI )

Technology Block, Panjab University, Sector-25, Chandigarh -160014 (India)

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Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About the Cluster

Panjab University, Chandigarh (PU) & Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (IIT-Ropar) have been sanctioned Northern Region S & T Cluster by the O/o Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), Government of India. The cluster is situated at the PU - Chandigarh Campus. The S&T cluster would be a Section-8 Company (non-profit organization) that aims to connect knowledge producers with knowledge consumers and end-users to enhance the regional industrial base's overall competitiveness, research, and innovation intensity, and resource utilization at par with the global industry. This is the first regional S&T cluster by the government of India and will take care the Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh states, and J&K, Ladakh and Chandigarh UTs. The objectives of the Cluster are:

 Regional solution/service provider: The Cluster will be a solution provider for the regional S&T problems of industries, State Governments, and local bodies.

 Policy Advocacy: The Cluster will also provide/facilitate 'Policy Advocacy' and 'Policy Recommendations' to local/regional/central government bodies.

 Aligning to Government of India initiatives, such as New Education Policy-20, Start-Up India, Skill India, Swasth Bharat, Shresth Bharat, Make in India, and Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR).

 Global outreach: The Cluster will make efforts to partner with institutions abroad.

 Science & Society hand in hand: The Cluster endeavours to take the research and education in the institutions to a global level while making it more relevant scientifically and socially. The connections between different disciplines will be made stronger to keep the scientific and social aspects balanced.

 The Cluster will specifically focus on linking MSMEs with academia.

The cluster will focus on the following themes:

 Agriculture & Food Processing

 Indigenous Technology Development & Optimization

 Pharma/ Healthcare & Medical Devices

 Waste Management & Wealth from Waste

 Sustainable Mobility & Green Energy Roles and Responsibilities of CEO/COO:

 Responsible for devising a strategic plan for the operations of the Cluster to achieve well-defined goals and ensure self-sustainability beyond the government funding.

 Strategize and initiate processes to support the faculty members, students, R&D collaborators for their day-to- day requirements.

 Coordinate academic events, workshops, training programs, etc.

 Enhance the Cluster's visibility and look for possible collaborations, startups, and companies for the transfer of technologies developed in the Northern Region.

 Explore avenues to generate funds in terms of projects, technology transfer, etc., in India and abroad.

 Establish an innovation ecosystem by interacting, selecting, and onboarding a robust group of mentors, investors, and business advisors.

 Work closely with Board of Directors (BoD) to help them work towards the Cluster's defined Vision and Mission by steering their technologies/IPs towards commercialization, mentoring, and helping to set up startup ventures.

 Raise and manage funds to ensure financial sustainability of the cluster; solicit donors, make a pitch to raise funds from corporates (CSR), Industry, Government grants, incubator funds, etc.; responsible for financial activities related to budgeting, reporting, audit, compliance with various statutory rules & regulations.

 Manage efficient & seamless operations; define policies and roll-out processes for managing granted projects and incubated startups; define measurable goals; ensure utilization of operating expenses as per budgets;

support team in achieving their milestones; collaborate and build a high-achieving team; conduct performance reviews of team-members; ensure compliance related to all applicable laws; and IP ownerships.

 Define, organize and disseminate accurate and timely reports to the BoD of Cluster, funding agencies, and all other stakeholders.

 Stay updated with the latest developments globally in the core areas of relevance to the Cluster.

Skill Sets, Knowledge, and Experience:

 Educational qualifications: MBA with a degree in any field of science, technology, and engineering with excellent written & oral communication skills. The candidates with Higher qualification with or without an MBA degree may be given preference.

Northern Region Science & Technology Cluster

PU – IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations (PI – RAHI )

Technology Block, Panjab University, Sector-25, Chandigarh -160014 (India)

 Experience: A preferably 8-year experience with at least 3-years managerial experience in translational work of research into the product in Industry, association, and similar organizations. Preference will be given to the candidates who have professional work experience in research, innovation, technology development, strategy, marketing and business development, international development in academia, industry or government in India or an International location in the domain of Science & Technology.

 Exceptionally good candidates with proven track-record may be considered without an MBA degree.

 Gravitas and commanding respect can interact comfortably with eminent and senior professors, professionals, students, collaborators, and other stakeholders.

 Fair understanding of the concept of incubation, entrepreneurship, and innovation; preference to those who have been an active player in the startup ecosystem.

 Marketing skills in advertisement, publicity through direct and online modes; Event management capabilities, networking capabilities with diverse stakeholders.

 Strong team-building & people-management skills with ability to set priorities & manage operations.

 Knowledge of stages for startups; Govt.-sponsored funds for startups; statutory framework; term sheets, etc.

 Incubation-related research and analytical skills, with preferable knowledge of various industries & emerging CPS technologies.

 Experience with interaction with Government agencies.

 Team player and consensus-builder at Board level and across employees; mindset of an institution builder Compensation, Tenure, and other details:

 The person would be appointed on a fixed salary Rs 15-18 LPA-CTC (negotiable within the band). An initial period of appointment will be one year, extendable for 2 more years based on the performance.

 Age: less than 40 years (Note: exceptional candidates with proven track record may be considered beyond the age limit mentioned here.)

 Separation condition: three (3) calendar months’ notice in the first year and one (1) calendar month notice in subsequent years, in writing for separation on either side or salary in lieu of the notice period.

General Instructions:

 The Cluster reserves the right to restrict the number of candidates for the further recruitment process to a reasonable limit, based on age, qualification, experience, etc.

 The Cluster also reserves the right to reject any or all the applications without assigning any reasons.

 Eligibility of the candidate to the post will not automatically mean that he/she will be shortlisted and called for further recruitment process. No request in this regard will be entertained for review.

 Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the further recruitment process through e-mails only.

 The selected candidate will be expected to join within two months from the date of the Offer of Appointment.

 A person working in Govt. Organization / Autonomous Bodies / PSUs etc., will be required to produce the

‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ before appearing for interview or should send his/ her application through the proper channel.

How to Apply:

Interested candidate may send their detailed CV as a single file to directorrdc@pu.ac.in with the subject line as "Application for Post of CEO/COO" or at the postal address given below subscribing on the envelope

"Application for the post of CEO/COO" to reach on or before November 30, 2023

.

Note:

 Only shortlisted candidates shall be called for the further recruitment process. The decision of the management for the shortlisting and selection will be final.

 The number of positions or the level of position may be based on the requirements and suitability of the candidate.

Addresses for communication:

Prof. Harsh Nayyar, Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh

Director, Research & Development Cell Dean (Research and Development) Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014 (India) Indian Institute of Technology Ropar,

Email: directorrdc@pu.ac.in Rupnagar – 140 001, Punjab (India)

Email: pps@iitrpr.ac.in