WARANGAL, OCTOBER 07, 2026: Human well-being, prosperity and sustainable development are possible only through science and technology, said Kakatiya University Vice-Chancellor Prof. K. Pratap Reddy.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day national conference “Modern Biotechnology: Challenges and Opportunities”, being held on October 7 and 8 at the KU Senate Hall. The conference is being organised under the chairmanship of T. Shastri, Head, Department of Biotechnology.
Prof. Pratap Reddy said science and technology play a vital role in the prevention and control of diseases. Biotechnology is no longer confined to food, healthcare, agriculture and environmental sustainability, but is emerging as a key field for human survival and future development.
He said biotechnology is expected to play a significant role in economic growth and employment generation over the next three decades. Emphasising the need for skilled biotechnologists in Telangana, he said the University is integrating project-based and technology-oriented learning into the curriculum. He also highlighted the growing scope for entrepreneurship in biotechnology and referred to the Telangana Government’s Life Sciences Policy 2030.
He said RUSA funds have been allocated for the development of Biotechnology, Life Sciences and Pharmacy departments at KU. The K-Hub is also conducting large-scale training and awareness programmes for students, he added.
Research Must Lead to Greater Employability: Giridhar Parvatham
Delivering the keynote address,Giridhar Parvatham, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, and a KU alumnus, expressed pride in being a former student of Kakatiya University and thanked his teachers.
He said India has witnessed significant growth in research and development, and these efforts should translate into greater employment opportunities. Innovation has expanded considerably over the past two decades, and students should focus on enhancing creativity and making the best use of every opportunity.
Biotechnology has applications far beyond medicine, pharmaceuticals and agriculture, he said, adding that students should develop an academic, research-oriented and creative outlook. He recalled that a university scholarship had helped him pursue higher education and advance in his career.
New Research in Biotechnology Must be Encouraged: Registrar
KU Registrar Prof. V. Ramachandram said the University’s growth has been supported by the significant contributions of its former Vice-Chancellors and faculty. He noted that new research in biotechnology is opening up promising avenues.
He congratulated the Department of Biotechnology on entering its Silver Jubilee year and becoming part of the University’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. He also appreciated the large number of research papers received from researchers and scientists across the country for the conference.
Five Plenary Sessions and Poster Presentations
Conference Chairman and Organising Secretary T. Shastri said the two-day conference features five plenary sessions and poster presentations, and that the conference abstracts have also been released.
Convener P. Srinivas recalled that the Department of Biotechnology had organised national and international conferences in 2010, 2016 and 2023.
Former faculty members, teaching and non-teaching staff, researchers and students participated in the inaugural programme.
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