About CRIE at MITSDE
CRIE at MITSDE is the Centre for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, positioning MITSDE as a credible hub for applied, interdisciplinary, and impact-oriented research, enabling innovation and entrepreneurship that responds to national and societal challenges—especially sustainability and climate action.
Vision
To position MITSDE as a credible hub for applied, interdisciplinary, and impact-oriented research, enabling innovation and entrepreneurship that responds to national and societal challenges—especially sustainability and climate action.
Mission
- To create a favourable environment for the enhancement of research productivity.
- To encourage collaboration across industry, government, community-based organizations, and agencies at the local, national and international levels.
- To facilitate greater access to research through the mobilization of resources and funding.
- To facilitate resources of the institute to stakeholders of society.
Objectives
- Create awareness and opportunities in Research, Innovation and Development among faculties and students.
- Increase research collaboration, linkages and MoUs at national and international levels.
- Foster a scientific temper for interdisciplinary research in the institute.
Governance Framework
An efficient governance mechanism ensures functional autonomy, transparency, accountability, and adaptability by strengthening interlinkages to create a conducive research environment. All activities of the IIC, Climate Cell and R&D Cell with Idea Café will be monitored by the Research Advisory Council (RAC) under CRIE, ensuring strategic direction, compliance, and measurable outcomes.
Research Advisory Council
A "Research Advisory Council" has been established starting from the academic year 2025–26 to provide regular guidance to the verticals under CRIE. This initiative aims to advance research activities within the institution, adhering to the directives of the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) and the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in March 2022.
| Sr No | Name | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Suhrud Neurgaonkar (Director) | Chairperson |
| 2 | Dr. Nitin Zadpe | Associate Professor |
| 3 | Dr. Rajesh Raut | Head- Centre for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
| 4 | Avneesh Mishra (Senior Legal Counsel-Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited) | External Member |
Based on the guidelines provided by the Research Advisory Council the responsibilities of various research and development initiatives have been delegated under the Centre for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Structural Components Under CRIE
3.1 Institution's Innovation Council (IIC)
MITSDE's IIC is aligned with the national IIC framework promoted through MoE's Innovation Cell (MIC), which supports institutional innovation culture through structured activities, innovation challenges, IPR focus, startup support, and innovation repository building.
Core Focus Areas (IIC at MITSDE):
- Research and Innovation support for faculty and students
- Innovation awareness and capacity building (workshops, talks, bootcamps)
- Idea identification, mentoring and validation
- IPR awareness, patent facilitation, and innovation documentation
- Support for innovation programs/initiatives (where applicable) under MIC/YUKTI ecosystem
What We Do Under IIC
We conduct the following activities to promote entrepreneurial thinking among students.
Innovate NEXT
Innovate NEXT is a national-level annual business plan competition aimed at discovering and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through this competition, students get the opportunity to present their innovative business ideas, develop structured business plans, and interact with industry experts and mentors.
In addition, we have conducted the following activities as per the IIC Activity Calendar to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and skill development among learners. The details of the activities are presented in the table attached below.
| Sr. No. | Name of Activity | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persuasive Presentation & Public Speaking Techniques | 18-Jan-25 |
| 2 | Advanced Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | 2-Feb-25 |
| 3 | CRM Tools and Strategies – Session 1 | 9-Feb-25 |
| 4 | CRM Tools and Strategies – Session 2 | 2-Mar-25 |
| 5 | AI Powered Website Creation: Simplifying Web Design | 10-Mar-25 |
| 6 | She Innovates; She Leads – Women Entrepreneurs Session | 8-Mar-25 |
| 7 | InnovateNEXT 1.0 – National Level Business Plan Competition | 2025 |
| 8 | AI for Sales 101: Prospect Smarter, Close Faster | 7-Sep-25 |
| 9 | Python Powered Stock Analysis using GenAI | 12-Oct-25 |
| 10 | Campus to Capital – Investor Pitch Session | 1-Nov-25 |
Connect X
Under ConnectX we conduct networking events, one on one dissection that offer an unparalleled opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, industry experts, and potential collaborators. These events foster meaningful interactions, allowing you to expand your professional network and explore new opportunities. Whether you are seeking mentorship or simply want to exchange ideas, our networking events are the perfect platform for professional growth.
The following are the details of the mentors/experts associated with us
Yogesh Kudale
PGDM in Finance ManagementB.E. in Mechanical Engineering
Mentorship Areas
Solar Energy, Robotics
Co-founder & CEO, TAYPRO
Leading innovations, in autonomous solar panel cleaning robots at TAYPRO
Experience in R&D and sales in HVAC products at Cosmos Group
Expertise, in digital campaign management at ASME Student Section
Team leadership, at ISHRAE Student Section
Mechanical Design Development at N.D. Machino Tech
Exploration of bus transport systems at BEST Mumbai
Nitin Sonawane
MBA in Financial ManagementMentorship Areas
Drone Technology, High-tech Farming, MSME
Senior Business Development, Finance, Sales & Marketing Strategist
Sales Head, IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt. Ltd. (Driving agri-drone sales with AI, IoT, and robotics)
Regional Sales Manager, Fyllo (Scaled high-tech farming solutions and revenue across 11 states)
State Head, Jai Kisan (Advanced farmer finance and MSME growth)
External Advisor, McKinsey & Co. (Improved sales strategies for agricultural machinery)
Leadership roles at Sonalika, John Deere, Swaraj, and Eicher
Mohan Chaudhari
B.E. in Mechanical EngineeringMentorship Areas
System Engineering, Process Engineering, Dyes and Chemicals
Managing Director, Technodry System Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
Founder, Technodry System Engineering Pvt. Ltd. (Specializing in industrial drying, mixing, evaporation, and distillation solutions).
Extensive experience, in process engineering, marketing, project execution, and management since 1995.
Expertise, in System Engineering, Process Engineering, Dyes, and Chemicals.
Advisor/Mentor, for multiple Startups.
Contact us: edcell@mitsde.com
3.2 Climate Cell
The Climate Cell acts as a thematic driver for climate-responsible research and innovation. NEP 2020 explicitly highlights climate change, sustainability, and environmental challenges as areas requiring interdisciplinary capability and research capacity.
Core Focus Areas (Climate Cell at MITSDE):
- Research and Innovation support for faculty and students
- Climate literacy and sustainability awareness programs
- Encouraging climate-focused research themes, case studies, and field projects
- Promoting SDG-aligned initiatives through teaching learning and research, especially SDG 4 (education), SDG 9 (innovation), SDG 11 (sustainable communities), SDG 13 (climate action)
- Supporting climate-tech ideation and socially relevant innovations (e.g., resource efficiency, circular economy, low-carbon practices)
What We Do Under the Climate Cell
1. 1M1B Activity
Under the Climate Cell, our learners are actively participating in the 1M1B (One Million for One Billion) Internship Program, which focuses on climate action and sustainability. Through this initiative, students engage in projects related to environmental awareness, climate education, and sustainable development. The internship helps learners develop practical skills, global perspectives, and a strong sense of responsibility toward building a sustainable future.
2. Faculty and Student Research
The Climate Cell encourages faculty members and students to participate in research and academic activities related to environmental sustainability and climate-related issues. These initiatives promote awareness, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of sustainable practices that support environmental responsibility.
3.3 R&D Cell with Idea Café
MITSDE's R&D Cell with Idea Café is designed as the institutional engine for research ecosystem building—aligned with national expectations for robust research governance and output. The UGC's R&D Cell (RDC) Guidelines provide a clear structure for building institutional research capacity, ethics, funding facilitation, and output mechanisms—this framework is adopted as a reference model for institutional strengthening.
Core Focus Areas (R&D Cell with Idea Café):
- Faculty and student research mentoring and training (research methods, writing, ethics, tools)
- Research proposal development support (internal and external funding)
- Publications, conferences, patents/IP facilitation (in coordination with IIC)
- Industry problem statements, consultancy research, applied projects, and MoUs
What We Do Under the R&D Cell and Idea Café
1. Udyam-The Journal of Business Insights
Under the R&D Cell and Idea Café, we encourage learners to participate in the Udyam Research Journal by contributing research papers and innovative ideas. This initiative promotes academic research, critical thinking, and knowledge sharing among learners.
Visit Udyam – The Journal of Business Insights Website
2. X-Culture Research Internship
We also encourage learners to participate in the X-Culture Research Internship, an international experiential learning program that provides students with the opportunity to collaborate with global teams, work on real business challenges, and gain exposure to international research and business practices.
3. Faculty and Student Research
The Climate Cell encourages faculty members and students to participate in research and academic activities related to environmental sustainability and climate-related issues. These initiatives promote awareness, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of sustainable practices that support environmental responsibility.
4. MITSDE Business Research Lab Program:
The MITSDE Business Research Lab Program is a live industry-based learning initiative where learners work on real business problems shared by companies. Under expert mentorship, participants conduct research, perform data analysis, and develop innovative, practical solutions to address industry challenges.
