The National Research Conference and Kerala Higher Education Expo 2026 will begin at the Government College for Women here on Monday (February 9, 2026).
Organized jointly by the Department of Higher Education and the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), the conference on ‘Research for Impact: Innovation and Translation for Social Advancement’ seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and its practical application for societal benefit.
Higher Education Minister R. Bindu will inaugurate the exhibition on Monday. The program is aimed at showcasing state universities, colleges and centers of excellence and will highlight patents, innovative technologies and research achievements from Kerala academic institutions.
The opening day will also include a political conclave on research and innovation with the participation of vice-chancellors, which aims to refine the framework of the state’s research policy.
There will also be dedicated workshops on reimagining undergraduate research within the four-year undergraduate framework to guide early stage researchers.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will deliver the inaugural address of the National Research Conference on February 11. It will also launch ‘Scholar Connect’, a digital platform designed to facilitate collaboration between the state’s higher education institutions and its academic diaspora around the world. The platform is part of the government’s ‘Brain Gain’ initiative.
The conference will feature eminent scholars including P. Balaram, former director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru; Professor MRN Murthy; and VK Ramachandran, Vice Chairman, Kerala State Board of Trustees.
Published – 08 Feb 2026 20:23 IST
