Ahmedabad University Launches an Online Programme for R&D Managers across Industries; Check Details Here

Ahmedabad University has collaborated with the Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research (CTIER) to launch ‘R&D Managers of the Future’, an online programme for middle and senior R&D professionals across industries. 

Some of the prominent faculty from Ahmedabad University, IIM Bangalore and IIM Ahmedabad, and several global R&D leaders will deliver the 3-months-long online weekend programme, which will assist managers in building strong strategic thinking around innovation and R&D.

According to CTIER, the country’s industrial R&D expenditure was USD 6.8 bn, which remains low by global standards. The Indian industry has been ranked lower than the top 20 global R&D spenders when the combined expenditure is calculated. As of now, the Indian industry is present in just 5 of the top 10 global R&D sectors. 

Simultaneously, the vibrant start-up ecosystem has made India emerge as one of the top destinations after the US and China for venture capital financing, making India, one of the top destinations for global MNC R&D centres, with more than 80 of the top 100 global R&D spenders having their presence in either through a subsidiary or an R&D centre. 

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Therefore, with the help of the online programme, Ahmedabad University and CTIER are determined to bridge the gap of creating a top-notch and skilled R&D workforce to drive innovation across sectors. 

Speaking about the launch of the programme, Ahmedabad University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Pankaj Chandra, said that the institute comprehends the multi-layered challenges faced by today’s R&D managers in India. 

He stated the challenges such as building credibility and trust in the products that managers develop, operational bottlenecks/ functional silos, recognizing and fostering talent, commercialisation of R&D, and creating linkages between corporate strategy and R&D strategy, among others. 

Further, he said that the institute can majorly enhance and upgrade the innovation output of the Indian organizations and the economy in a large manner by strengthening capabilities of R&D leaders and the R&D teams in India. 

Commenting about collaboration and the launch of the programme, Dr. Naushad Forbes, Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall and Chairman, CTIER, said that Indian industries specifically invests less in the in-house R&D than their peers elsewhere, which is true across all sectors.

Forbes said that they invest 0.3 percent of GDP in in-house R&D to a world average of 1.5 percent, and simultaneously, they have an abundance of talent available to them in the form of qualified engineers.

So, he questioned how they can build the capability in their CTIER firms to make the right investments in technology? How can they formulate and select the right R&D projects that will deliver differentiated capabilities? 

Thus, in order to address these questions, the CTIER has developed this unique executive development programme by collaborating with Ahmedabad University and it has been specifically designed with inputs from industry and R&D leaders.

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About the Online Programme 

Ahmedabad University’s online programme consists of 14 core modules, individual projects and special sessions with industry speakers and other experts. 

The varsity has designed the online programme to facilitate the R&D professionals who are on the lookout to lead R&D teams in the future and to enhance their people and project management skills.

Apart from picking up core R&D skills like proactive financial and IP management and marketing of R&D, the programme participants will imbibe soft skills related to ‘collaboration and compromise’, ‘understanding the language of senior management’, and ‘agility and adaptability’.

Organisations intending to inculcate deep capabilities in their employees in R&D and Innovation Management areas can nominate employees for the online programme. 

Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded with a certificate signed by Ahmedabad University and CTIER. 

R&D Managers of the Future is a part of Ahmedabad University’s Continuing & Executive Education suite of programmes. 

In order to get admissions to the programme, Candidates can apply for the programme on or before February 16, 2022. 

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