Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) was initiated at Panjab University in 2013, whereby Institutions in and around Chandigarh came together for the creation of a Knowledge Cluster with a mandate to use Science, Technology and Innovation for Socio-Economic development in the region. The regional impetus was expected to contribute to national and global goals in tandem with the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and bring together stakeholders from the fields of academia, industry, civil society, and the government.
The banner of CRIKC subsumes within itself diverse institutions of higher education and research with an aim to facilitate innovation and knowledge creation and achieve excellence in all academic spheres without compromising the autonomy of the participating institution. Faculty and scientists are encouraged to carry out joint and collaborative research and to run joint teaching/training programs at all levels of education & research. This encourages pooling of research facilities of the participating institutions, promoting and sustaining excellence in research and policy planning for better comprehension of Government of India programmes and catering to societal needs.
The Institutes which are part of CRIKC include Medical Institutes like PGIMER and GMCH-32, Chandigarh; Engineering Institutes like IIT (Ropar), PEC, NITTTR, CCET at Chandigarh, C-DAC, Mohali; Higher Education Institutes like Panjab University, Chandigarh; IISER, NIPER, Chitkara, Rayat-Bahra University, Mohali, Desh Bhagat University, Gobindgarh and Maharaja Agarsen University, Baddi; and Research and Development Institutes like CSIR-IMTECH, DRDO-SASE, DRDO-TBRL, PSCST, IDC, CRRID, Chandigarh and DBT-CIAB, DBT-NABI, DST-INST, SCL in Mohali.
CRIKC domains which have left a noteworthy impact on the society and scientific community include: "CRIKC Ignited Minds" being run at various government schools to inculcate scientific temper among school students and science teachers; and "CRIKC Shodh Samwad" being organized at various institutes for fostering collaboration amongst PhD scholars and providing them leadership opportunities. Under the vertical of Industry-Academia collaboration and innovation an Advance Drone Tech Centre has been established at Panjab University campus.