10/05/2026
A Two-Day Skill Development Program on BioNexus 2026
Organized by: MBSI HIT Student Chapter in association with Department of Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Engineering & IQAC, Haldia Institute of Technology, WB
Date: 6–7 May 2026
BioNexus 2026, a two-day skill development program, was successfully organized by the MBSI HIT Student Chapter in association with the Department of Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Engineering, and IQAC, Haldia Institute of Technology, on 6–7 May 2026. The event served as an interdisciplinary platform focusing on innovation, research, entrepreneurship, and practical implementation for future development. It brought together students, researchers, academicians, and industry experts to exchange ideas and explore real-world scientific and technological solutions. Insightful lectures, interactive discussions, and well-structured PPT presentations by speakers and participants enriched the sessions by visually demonstrating research methodologies, scientific findings, and future possibilities in the fields of biotechnology and agriculture.
The inaugural session commenced with an inspiring address by Prof. Tarun Kanti Jana, Principal, HIT Haldia. He highlighted the immense potential of integrating agriculture and biotechnology and discussed recent advancements in agri-tech digital systems, modern agricultural machinery, and the growing role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in market development and smart farming practices. He emphasized that collaboration between the two departments could significantly contribute to innovation, research advancement, and economic growth. He also encouraged students to actively participate in such initiatives to gain practical exposure and explore future career opportunities beyond traditional academics.
Prof. Radha Rani Das, Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Food Technology, HIT Haldia described BioNexus as a meaningful platform uniting Agriculture and Biotechnology under a shared vision. She emphasized the interrelationship between the two disciplines and their collective contribution toward food security, sustainability, and human welfare. She motivated students to transform knowledge into impactful innovations through creativity and research.
Prof. Dilip Dey, Coordinator of IQAC, HIT Haldia, spoke about the significance of IQAC in ensuring and improving the quality of education. Sharing his earlier experiences regarding the development of biotechnology infrastructure despite financial challenges, he emphasized that the ultimate objective of educational institutions should be enhancing student quality, skills, and opportunities. His speech inspired students to value perseverance, institutional support, and continuous growth.
Dr. Amit Biswas, Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, appreciated the successful organization of the event and encouraged the continuation of such interdisciplinary collaborations, which help students develop broader perspectives, practical exposure, and confidence in research and innovation.
Dr. Shamba Chatterjee, Head of the Department of Biotechnology, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary fusion and collaboration in the modern world, stating that no single field alone can provide solutions to all challenges. He discussed entrepreneurship, innovation, and the significance of solving real-life problems through integrated approaches involving agriculture, biotechnology, and technology. He encouraged students to think beyond conventional learning and work toward meaningful societal impact.
Technical Sessions – Day 1
Dr. Arunima Biswas, State President of MBSI, West Bengal, congratulated both departments for successfully organizing BioNexus 2026 and appreciated the initiative taken to encourage young scholars and researchers through MBSI support. She explained how biotechnology primarily focuses on research, while agriculture transforms scientific discoveries into practical societal applications.
Her lecture on calcium signaling cross-talk and ribosome biogenesis provided students with exposure to advanced molecular biology research. Through detailed PPT demonstrations, she discussed molecular genetics analysis in yeast, ribosome biogenesis pathways, depletion of TIF65 leading to selective deficit of 60S ribosomes, and polysome analysis indicating that eIF6 is not a canonical translation initiation factor. She further elaborated on the role of Tif6p in pre-rRNA processing, nuclear import mechanisms of mammalian eIF6, and the effects of calcineurin inhibitors.
Dr. Krishnendu Pramanik, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, BCKV, WB delivered an engaging lecture on metagenomic analysis of soil microbiota under fluoride stress in Purulia district. His presentation simplified complex genomic and environmental concepts through informative PPT demonstrations. The session covered fluorine movement through the food chain, genome analysis, alpha and beta diversity, molecular identification of fluoride-tolerant isolates, whole genome annotation, Qualimap summary, variant calling, and PGPR-based fluoride bioremediation efficiency of Enterobacter ludwigii strain. The lecture highlighted the role of microbiology and genomics in environmental sustainability and soil health improvement.
Overall, the first day of BioNexus 2026 became a vibrant platform for scientific interaction, learning, and inspiration, exposing participants to modern research trends and interdisciplinary innovation.
Day 2 Highlights
The second day of BioNexus 2026 continued the spirit of innovation, research, and entrepreneurship through a series of highly insightful sessions delivered by distinguished experts from academia and industry. The sessions reflected the strong interdisciplinary connection between biotechnology, computational science, entrepreneurship, and real-world applications.
The first workshop session was conducted by Dr. Bharat Manna, Founder & Principal Scientist, Manna Omics Solutions and Former Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, on the topic “Visualizing the Invisible: A Computational Journey from Systems to Atoms.”
Through an informative and visually engaging presentation, he explored the microbial and molecular world associated with wastewater treatment systems. The session covered wastewater treatment processes, microbial community dynamics, wastewater sampling techniques, enzyme-mediated biological treatment, DNA sequencing, contigs, gene identification, microbial ID systems, and global genomic databases. Advanced topics including microbial community changes at the phylum level, protein structure visualization, and VDM-related computational analysis were also discussed. The session successfully simplified highly complex computational and microbiological concepts for students and researchers.
The second session was delivered online by Dr. Saptarshi Chatterjee, Associate Professor, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Associate Director of the Centre for Incubation, and Chief Coordinator of the BIRAC-funded E-YUVA Centre at ADAMAS University.
His lecture focused on innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship development. He emphasized the importance of intellectual property rights and the need to protect innovative ideas before implementing them commercially. The session motivated participants to think entrepreneurially, embrace calculated risks, and transform creative ideas into impactful ventures.
The final session of the day was conducted online by Dr. Suman Jyoti Deka, CEO of Laajawab – All-in-One Dry Marinades, on entrepreneurship and startup development. Through the inspiring journey of the startup Laajawab Spices, he demonstrated how regional resources and indigenous knowledge from Northeast India could be transformed into successful business ventures.
The presentation focused on the development of authentic spice products made from exotic Indian and Italian herbs without artificial flavors. He discussed market size, branding strategies, competitive positioning, and future growth roadmaps. The session provided valuable insights into startup building, product innovation, sustainable entrepreneurship, and innovation-driven marketing strategies.
The program concluded with a prize distribution ceremony recognizing outstanding student performances and enthusiastic participation in various events and competitions organized during BioNexus 2026. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, encouragement, and celebration as participants were appreciated for their creativity, research aptitude, and teamwork.
BioNexus 2026 successfully emerged as a dynamic platform where science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship converged. The program not only enriched academic understanding but also inspired students to think beyond conventional boundaries, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute meaningfully toward scientific advancement and sustainable societal development.
