Academic

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) is pleased to announce the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Virchow Biotech Pvt. Ltd., a leading biopharmaceutical company known for its global presence in the healthcare sector.

This collaboration aims to build a strong bridge between academia and industry in the domains of biosciences, biotechnology, and translational research, with an emphasis on real-world applications, student development, and societal impact.

Key Areas of Collaboration:

• Industry-Sponsored Student Training & Research: Hands-on industrial exposure and skill development through Virchow Foundation initiatives.
• Collaborative Research Projects: Joint research in cutting-edge areas of biosciences and biotechnology.
• Sponsored PhD Programs: Industry-supported fellowships to empower future research leaders.
• Shared Research Infrastructure:  Access to SSSIHL’s advanced Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) for joint R&D.
• Technology Development & Commercialization: Support for translating research outcomes into real-world innovations.
• Student Recruitment: Enhancing career opportunities for students through active placement support.

The MoU was signed on 13 June 2025 at Virchow Biotech Pvt. Ltd. between Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL and Dr. Murali Tummuru, Managing Director of Virchow Biotech Pvt. Ltd.

The event was graced by:

• Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad – Vice Chancellor, SSSIHL
• Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah– Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and President, Institution’s Innovation Council, SSSIHL
• Dr. B. E. Pradeep– Department of Biosciences, SSSIHL
• Prof. Pallu Reddanna, Executive President, FABA, whose continued guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in advancing academia-industry engagement in the life sciences sector.

This partnership marks a significant step in SSSIHL’s mission to foster values-based research, innovation, and entrepreneurship that meaningfully contributes to both scientific progress and societal welfare.

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Promea Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd., a rapidly expanding healthcare and biopharmaceutical company. This partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening the institute’s industry-academia interface and advancing translational research, skill development, and innovation in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.

Key Areas of Collaboration

This MoU will facilitate a range of collaborative activities designed to bridge academic excellence with industrial relevance:

• Industry-Integrated Training and Research: Promea will provide SSSIHL students with hands-on industrial training, project internships, and exposure to real-time challenges in pharmaceutical and medical device development.
• Joint Research Initiatives: Faculty and researchers from both institutions will co-develop projects in diagnostics, therapeutics, and biosimilars, translating scientific discoveries into real-world solutions.
• Sponsored Doctoral Programs: Promea will support industry-aligned PhD fellowships to promote cutting-edge research addressing national healthcare priorities.
• Shared Research Infrastructure: The collaboration includes access to SSSIHL’s Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) to support advanced R&D initiatives.
• Innovation to Commercialization: A joint focus on transforming research into tangible healthcare technologies with direct patient impact.
• Recruitment and Career Development: Promea will explore career and mentorship opportunities for SSSIHL students through placements and collaborative engagement.

MoU Signing Ceremony

The MoU was formally signed on 13 June 2025 at Promea Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd., in Hyderabad, between:

• Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL
• Mr. Gopi Lekkala, Director, Promea Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd.

The event was graced by:

• Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad – Vice Chancellor, SSSIHL
• Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah – Dean, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and President, Institution’s Innovation Council, SSSIHL
• Dr. B.E. Pradeep – Faculty Member, Department of Biosciences, SSSIHL
• Prof. Reddanna Pallu, Executive President, FABA, whose continued guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in advancing academia-industry engagement in the life sciences sector.

This collaboration is a reflection of SSSIHL’s commitment to values-based, research-driven education that not only fosters academic excellence but also cultivates socially relevant innovation. Through this partnership, both institutions aim to empower the next generation of scientists, researchers, and professionals to solve real-world healthcare challenges with compassion, competence, and creativity.

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) is pleased to announce the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASPIRE – the Section-8 company of the University of Hyderabad that oversees the University’s leading incubation centres:

• TIDE (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs)
• TBI (Technology Business Incubator)
• BioNEST (Biotech Incubation Centre)

The MoU was formally signed on 13 June 2025 at ASPIRE BioNEST, University of Hyderabad.

MoU Signatories:

• Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL
• Prof. Samrat L. Sabat, Director, R&D Cell, University of Hyderabad

Distinguished Attendees:

From ASPIRE / University of Hyderabad:

• Prof. Reddanna, Founder Director, ASPIRE & Executive President, FABA
• Dr. P. Ratnakar, PAC Member, ASPIRE BioNEST
• Dr. Ramakrishna, CEO, TIDE & TBI

From SSSIHL:

• Prof. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor
• Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah, Dean – Innovation & Entrepreneurship & President, Institution’s Innovation Council
• Sri J. Lakshminarasimhiah, Finance Officer
• Dr. B.E. Pradeep, Department of Biosciences
• Mr. T.L. Pavan Kumar, CEO, Sri Sathya Sai Research and Innovation Foundation (SSSRIF)
• Mr. Kotikala Krishnamurthy, Member, Finance Committee

Purpose and Scope of the MoU

This partnership lays the groundwork for a long-term collaboration aimed at:

• Supporting the operationalization of Sri Sathya Sai Research and Innovation Foundation (SSSRIF), the Institute’s Section-8 not-for-profit entity
• Facilitating the establishment of a robust innovation and incubation ecosystem at SSSIHL
• Enabling knowledge exchange in governance, financial modelling, and startup acceleration strategies

A highlight of the event was Dr. Ramakrishna’s presentation on ASPIRE’s incubation architecture, operational models, and industry partnerships. His insights offered valuable direction for shaping SSSIHL’s innovation framework.

Towards a Values-Based Innovation Culture

With this MoU, SSSIHL takes a significant step forward in nurturing deep-tech, biotech, and health-tech innovations rooted in academic research, societal needs, and integral human values.

This partnership reflects the shared vision of both institutions to create a values-based innovation ecosystem that empowers students, researchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs to drive impactful change across India.

We look forward to a fruitful and purpose-driven collaboration.

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) has entered into a strategic collaboration with the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) to launch a transformative initiative aimed at empowering students in biotechnology and life sciences. An MoU was formally signed on 13 June 2025 at the ASPIRE-BioNEST facility, University of Hyderabad.

The agreement was signed between Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL, and Dr. Ratnakar Palakodeti, Secretary, FABA.

The event was graced by:

• Prof. Reddanna, Executive President, FABA,
• Dr. Jagadeesh Gandla, Chief Operating Officer, FABA.

Representing SSSIHL were:

• Prof. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice Chancellor
• Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah, Dean, Innovation & Entrepreneurship & President, Institution’s Innovation Council
• Dr. B.E. Pradeep, Department of Biosciences
• Sri Lakshmi Narasimhiah, Finance Officer
• Sri T.L. Pavan Kumar, CEO, Sri Sathya Sai Research and Innovation Foundation
• Sri Kotikala Krishnamurthy, Member, Finance Committee

About the Collaboration

The MoU paves the way for the establishment of Biotech Finishing School programs at the SSSIHL Prasanthi Nilayam campus. These programs aim to:

• Provide hands-on, industry-aligned training in key areas of biotechnology
• Expose students to current trends in diagnostics, therapeutics, and research
• Enhance professional readiness and career prospects in the biotech sector

This partnership aligns with the institute’s vision of integrating values-based education with cutting-edge skill development, preparing students to lead with competence, integrity, and innovation in the life sciences domain.

The Faculty Development Program (FDP) on Advances in Mathematical Modeling Techniques, AI/ML and Bioinformatics was organized online by the Centre for Excellence in Mathematical Biology (CEMB), SSSIHL, in collaboration with ISMMACS, from April 12–19, 2025, as part of the Sri Sathya Sai Centenary Celebrations. It brought together 72 participants—faculty, researchers, and students—from across India.

Over eight days, expert speakers from premier institutions worldwide delivered sessions covering key domains such as optimal control, parameter estimation, epidemiological modeling, delay differential equations (DDEs), stochastic modeling, bioinformatics, and scientific machine learning. The program balanced theory with hands-on training, using tools like Python, MATLAB, and JAMOVI to simulate real-world scenarios in population dynamics, disease spread, cancer research, and more.

Highlights included sessions on machine learning techniques like Extreme Learning Machines, cryptographic applications of graph theory, and hybrid modeling approaches combining AI and mechanistic models. Real-life case studies, such as modeling the effects of insecticides on crops or hereditary cancer diagnostics through bioinformatics, added practical value.

Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, praising the program’s interdisciplinary nature, clarity of instruction, technical depth, and smooth organization. Many appreciated the accessibility of complex topics and the provision of session recordings for continued learning. The FDP successfully enriched participants’ knowledge base and provided a robust platform for future research and collaboration in mathematical biology and computational modeling.

View detailed report:

The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) successfully organized a one-day hands-on workshop titled “Attracting Investments for Research and Innovation” on 25 April 2025 at the Multimedia Learning Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus.

The workshop comprised three interactive sessions and saw participation from over 50 attendees, including faculty members, research scholars, and students from all four campuses of SSSIHL.

Session I

Following the traditional Vedam chanting, the event commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by distinguished dignitaries:

• Dr. Anand Govindaluri, Guest Speaker and Founder & CEO, Govin Capital, Singapore
• Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL
• Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL
• Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah, Dean of Sciences and President of IIC, SSSIHL
• Dr. Raghunatha Sharma, Director, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Dr. B. E. Pradeep, IPR Coordinator, IIC-SSSIHL, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the day. The inaugural address was presented by Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, who emphasized the significance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of investment in scaling scientific research.

Ms. Premembika from the Anantapur Campus introduced the guest speaker. Dr. Anand Govindaluri then delivered a compelling keynote address on the topic, “Attracting Venture Capital Funding to Scientific Research and Innovations”. Drawing from over two decades of experience in venture investment and entrepreneurship, Dr. Anand shared valuable insights and inspiring real-world examples. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, during which he provided in-depth responses to participants’ queries citing real-world cases and insights.

Watch the recording of Session I: https://www.youtube.com/live/p-Um1VMFpvc?si=MEZ8-FmAXMyC69MN

Session II

The second session was a closed-door hands-on workshop, where selected participants showcased their research and entrepreneurial ideas through a concise “One-Slide Presentation”. The participants included:

• Sai Darshini, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Amrita Shaw, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Mounika Pandey, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Dr. Vishweshwar, Assistant professor, DCHEM, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus
• Dr. Murali Ravi, Assistant Professor, DPHY, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Each presentation received detailed feedback from Dr. Anand Govindaluri, who expressed a strong interest in two of the projects, noting their potential for commercialization and investment. This endorsement provided a major boost to the confidence and motivation of the participants.

Session III

The concluding session included another enlightening talk by Dr. Anand titled, “Social and Scientific Innovations and Investors’ Dilemma”, where he elaborated on the challenges and opportunities that innovators and investors face in the current global scenario.

An open house discussion allowed for a free exchange of thoughts, clarifications, and further learning. The event concluded with remarks by Dr. Murali Ravi, who appreciated the inspiring guidance provided by the speaker and the active participation of the attendees, followed by a vote of thanks and Mangala Aarathi.

Watch the recording of Session III: https://www.youtube.com/live/-KPq8k3at9g?si=11XjzVObQRfJaJFC

The workshop proved to be a highly impactful initiative, leaving participants better informed about the venture capital ecosystem and inspired to transform their research innovations into real-world solutions.

View Photos

India’s semiconductor journey is gaining remarkable momentum, and the 2nd Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Symposium, held at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, was a shining testament to this national progress. Organised at the IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), RISC-V International, and several leading industry partners, the symposium brought together policymakers, global experts, start-ups, academia, and industry leaders to accelerate RISC-V innovation in India.

Amidst this inspiring national landscape, students from the Department of Physics, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) have made a significant mark. As part of the DIR-V Technology Roadshow in December 2024, the department initiated a hands-on skill development programme with the support of Kunal Ghosh, CEO and Founder VSD & Anagha Ghosh, Director and Co-Founder, VSD. This programme trained students on the indigenously developed VSD-minisquadron RISC-V microcontroller, fostering a culture of innovation and application-based learning.

This training journey culminated in a first prize victory in the Hardware Track of the DIR-V Symposium Product Hackathon, held on 2nd March 2025 at IIT Madras. The award, which included a cash prize of ₹50,000, was presented by Former Union Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras.

The winning team of enterprising B.Sc. Physics students — Akhil Thapa, Vardan Chettri, Prudhvi Sai Bharadwaj, Vishnu Dev, and Kabiraj Basnet, under the guidance of Dr. Sai Muthukumar V, Asst. professor, Dept of Physics, developed and demonstrated a dual-axis solar tracker prototype named “Heliosync360.” Their laboratory model showcased innovative application of RISC-V microcontroller technology, and was met with enthusiastic appreciation from the academic and scientific community at IIT-M.

The Department of Physics extends heartfelt thanks to the administrators of SSSIHL, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations (SSSO), and SSSO-Alumni for their continued support and encouragement.

The students humbly dedicated this achievement as an offering in the centenary year of our Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, whose divine vision and values continue to inspire and guide their academic journey.

A delegation from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Prasanthi Nilayam, comprising six members and led by Prof. Rani P L, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Language & Literature, visited the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru, on April 7 and 8, 2025. The visit was a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions in November 2023, aimed at advancing collaborative research and academic initiatives.

During the two-day visit, the SSSIHL team, which included faculty from the Departments of Education, Performing Arts, and Languages, held detailed discussions with AIISH’s Department of Special Education. Key focus areas included integrating music therapy into special education, assessing the effectiveness of ongoing online Djembe rhythm therapy sessions, and exploring the incorporation of special education strategies within SSSIHL’s human values-based curriculum.

A highlight of the visit was a spontaneous music session conducted by SSSIHL faculty members Shri Nishikant Barodekar (Tabla), Shri P. Sreenivas (Vocal), and Shri Sai Dutt (Mridangam) for over a hundred preschool children and their parents attending therapy at AIISH.

On the second day, the team toured the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) department to explore opportunities for academic contributions in application development. Simultaneously, researchers from SSSIHL’s Department of Languages engaged with faculty from AIISH’s Department of Sign Language to discuss frameworks for collaborative and impactful research.

Prof. Rani P L also held strategic meetings with Dr. Pushpavathi, Director, and Dr. Ramkumar, COO of AIISH, to further strengthen the proposed action plan. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to promote research that is socially relevant and aligned with the vision of SSSIHL’s Revered Founder-Chancellor Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.