Mumba: The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) showcased its cutting edge technologies to 100 companies from across the country at an event here.

The programme, ‘Techconnect 2009’, was organised over the weekend and was aimed at bringing out benefits of research from laboratories to the common man. It was held under the banner of ‘Industry Day´.

The industry’s involvement is needed for transfer of modern technologies and their use for the common good, Krithi Ramamritham, Dean for Research and Development, IIT-B, said in a release here today.

Most Western universities and even those in Japan and South Korea organise dissemination programmes annually, Ramamritham said.

The event was organised by the Industrial Research and Consultancy Centre (IRCC) of the institute with a special focus on small and medium scale enterprises.

Large companies are aware of the value of technology coming out of IIT-B. It is the small and medium enterprises that we want to target with this event, Ramamritham said.

Industry reviewed research projects and prototypes and we expect to explore opportunities to commercialise IIT-B’s technologies, Ramamritham said.

‘TechConnect 2009’ showcased 50 exhibits across manufacturing, ICT, defence, energy, healthcare and processing industries.

A few nanotechnologies like those to treat cancer cell by heat and drug via magnetic nanoparticulates, use of IT for agriculture and even local area public transport were displayed.

While the institute has filed patents for some of the exhibits, the same for a few others are in the process of being filed, Ramamritham said.

Globally, premier universities like Stanford have developed a strong culture of technology transfer which enables them to play a crucial role in the industrial and economic growth of their country and IIT-B is doing the same, she said.

“IIT-Bombay, on its part, has embarked on an ambitious plan for technology transfer, Ramamritham said, adding several other strategic initiatives are also on the anvil.