Professor SK Som (left), director of IIT-Kharagpur, inaugurates the two-day international conclave, “Innovations in Engineering and Management” at Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) in Patna on Friday. He stressed the innovation of cost-effective technology, effective management to expand the engineering market and the need for enhanced collaboration between industry and academics. Focusing on the relevant challenging issues in technology, Som said it was important to introduce multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research courses for positive social change. He also emphasised on the research required in biomedical engineering. Over 300 delegates from across the world and 119 institutions took part in it. BIT-Patna vice-chancellor PK Barhai (right) delivered the welcome address. Text by Smita Kumar, picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh