Dharwad: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacted with students and answer their queries during her visit to IIT-Dharwad on Tuesday. The minister was at the institute to inaugurate the Dharwad Research and Technology Incubator (dhaRti) and Bionest Incubation Centre which has come up with funding from Nirmala Sitharaman, Union minister Pralhad Joshi and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), department of biotechnology, Government of India. While Nirmala and Joshi contributed Rs 5.29 crore from the MP local aread development fund, BIRAC has given Rs 5 crore. Replying to students’ queries, Nirmala emphasised the need to align academic curricula with industry requirements, to address the widening gap between education and employability. IIT-Dharwad director prof Venkappayya R Desai explained the achievements of the institute.
