The CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) here with Punjab Government’s Department of Science, Technology & Environment to jointly address the issues pertaining to public health and environment under Mission Tandrust Punjab 2.0 besides working together for making the state Research & Innovation Hub under Mission Innovate Punjab.Under the MoU, both organizations will strive to promote Research & Innovation (R&I) ecosystem in Punjab to enhance competitiveness, boost economic growth and create quality jobs. Department of Science Technology and Environment and IMTECH have jointly identified several areas in monitoring and analysis of water quality and conducting technical studies on diseases linked with water pollution in the state.The MoU was inked by Principal Secretary Science Technology and Environment R.K. Verma and Director IMTECH Dr. Manoj Raje in order to undertake state specific collaborative projects on new, innovative and cost effective biosensor and microbial technology based techniques for monitoring and improvement of water quality including bioremediation.Pertinently, the ‘Tandrust Punjab’ mission was launched by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to make Punjab the healthiest State by improving parameters on air quality, water quality, safe food and a good living environment.Mr. Verma said that apart from research and innovation support, IMTECH would also help the state for analyzing and forecasting of crop diseases like Rice blast etc. He said that it would also extend state-of-the-art infrastructure as well as its proposed Skill Development Centre for the benefit of life science industries and start-ups based out of Punjab. He said that this MoU would go a long way in promoting much needed innovation ecosystem in the state by providing requisite guidance and support to start ups.Dr. Manoj Raje said that this MoU would be executed in letter and spirit and as a first step IMTECH along with Punjab Pollution Control Board was submitting a joint proposal to UK Research Innovation on Anti-Microbial Resistance, which poses threat to human health in the state.