October  2025

Innovation thrives where ideas meet execution — this was the central theme of the October edition of the 21st Monthly Colloquium Series, organized under the banner of CREST (Centre for Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technologies), BITS Pilani.

The session featured a keynote talk by Mr. Ranjit Eswaran, Team Leader Engineer at proteanTecs, on “Blending Innovation Perspective with an Execution Mindset.” In his engaging talk, Mr. Eswaran discussed how creativity, systematic thinking, and disciplined implementation can together drive technological breakthroughs, particularly in the semiconductor industry.

Drawing on his professional journey, he offered practical strategies for balancing innovation with real-world constraints, emphasizing the importance of cultivating an engineering mindset that bridges ideation and execution.

The colloquium drew active participation from students, faculty, and professionals, with a lively Q&A session underscoring the enthusiasm for applying innovative principles to research and product development.

The session reaffirmed CREST’s vision of fostering meaningful dialogues that inspire innovation and strengthen academia–industry connections in the semiconductor ecosystem.

A delegation from Maven Silicon, led by Mr. Sivakumar P. R. (Founder & CEO), Ms. Praveena G. (Co-founder & Managing Director), and Mr. Udayachandar S. K. U., visited the Centre for Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technologies (CREST) at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, on 16th October 2025. The visit served as a key step toward deepening engagement between academia and industry in India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.

The discussions during the visit centered around enhancing industry–academia collaboration, designing structured skill development programs, and fostering innovation-driven education and research in the semiconductor domain.

This visit also marked an important milestone in the tri-partite collaboration between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Maven Silicon, and BITS Pilani–CREST, aimed at advancing India’s leadership in the global semiconductor landscape. The partnership is envisioned to empower the next generation of semiconductor professionals through focused training, collaborative research, and innovation-led initiatives, reinforcing India’s vision of becoming a global hub for semiconductor excellence.

As part of its Distinguished Lecture Series, the Centre for Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technologies (CREST), BITS Pilani – Hyderabad Campus, had the privilege of hosting Dr. R. Ratheesh, Director General, Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), for an inspiring talk titled “Advanced Electronic Materials for High-End Device Applications” on 22nd October 2025.

In his engaging address, Dr. Ratheesh shared his extensive experience and insights into C-MET’s pioneering journey in the Semiconductor and Electronic Materials domain, highlighting the organization’s pivotal role in advancing India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

He also discussed C-MET’s ground-breaking work in e-waste management, emphasizing sustainable material recovery, recycling, and the importance of green innovation in building a technologically self-reliant India.

The session offered a deeper understanding of the critical role of advanced materials in high-end device fabrication, while inspiring participants to explore new research frontiers in semiconductor and materials science.

CREST extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. R. Ratheesh and Mr. Akshdeep Sharma, Scientist D, C-MET, Hyderabad for their time and for sharing their valuable perspectives with the BITS community.