Quality improvement of all the institutions coming under AICTE is needed, stressed Dr. R. S Gaud, Adviser - I, AICTE & President, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI). Inaugurating the Industry Institute Partnership (IIP) Cell at J. S. S. College of Pharmacy, Mysore on March 8, 2003, he expressed the need for networking of institutions to make use of the available resources and equipment. The Cell is sponsored by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi.

Dr. Suresh Venkatraman, vice president, R & D, Zydus Cadila Health Care Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore released IIPC Brochure and expressed the importance of patent protection laws for the present R & D of the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Suresh stressed on the importance of active participation of students in research both in institute and industry. Dr. B. G Nagavi, Principal, J. S. S. College of Pharmacy spoke on IP cell objectives and attainments. He said that the main objectives of IIP Cell are training and placement, collaborative R & D, consultancy services, resource sharing, faculty exchange and curriculum development.

There were discussion and signing of memorandum of understanding between Industry Institution Partnership (IIP) Cell and the pharmaceutical industries to recognise the potential benefits that can be realised from the interaction amongst them in solving the problems through joint programmes and collaborative ventures and to develop co-operation amongst them, which would be of considerable mutual interest and have therefore a common desire to develop programmes specifically in relation to M. Pharm projects, training, staff exchange, resources sharing and research. Guests from industries extended their co-operation and support to IIP Cell.

Dr. K. N. Subbaswami, CEO, Resonance Lab, Bangalore & President, Karnataka Drug Manufacturers Association inaugurated the Research lab of Dept. of Pharmaceutics. Dr. Subbaswamy said that "intellectual property protection laws will promote basic research in our country and opined that both pharma and biotech industries should work together." Dr. Subbaswamy announced a grant of Rs. 2.00 lakh for collaborative project between JSS-IIP Cell and Resonance Lab, Bangalore. D. B. Sridhar from Banner Pharmacaps, Bangalore M. Chandrashekar of Ce-chem Labs, Bangalore Dr. K. N. Bopanna from Astra Zeneca Ltd, Bangalore Arun Gosavi of Microlabs, Hosur and Chitra Sarkar, Community Pharmacists, Switzerland were guests of honour.

Sr. B. N. Betkerur, Executive Secretary, J. S. S. Mahavidyapeetha, Mysore, presided over the function. Dr. H. G. Shivakumar, Vice Principal and Chief Co-ordinator, IIPC welcomed the guests and T. M. Pramod Kumar proposed the vote of thanks.