The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay established a new company, Translational Research Yielding Solutions for Tomorrow (TRYST), aimed at transforming laboratory innovations into commercially viable products. The initiative seeks to bridge the long-standing gap between academic research and industrial application, enabling promising technologies developed on campus to reach the marketplace. The institute launched TRYST to ensure that innovative research outcomes do not remain confined to laboratories but instead translate into practical solutions for industry and society.
A Dedicated Corporate Structure for Technology Commercialisation
Incorporated in early 2026, TRYST will function as a corporate entity with a professional organisational structure. The company will operate under the leadership of a dedicated Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and will include a team of engineers, technology experts, and business development professionals.
This team will focus on identifying high-potential technologies developed within IIT Bombay and evaluating their commercial viability. Once identified, these technologies will undergo further development to prepare them for market deployment. Through the approach, TRYST aims to accelerate the transition of research innovations from laboratory prototypes to commercially viable products.
Addressing the Gap Between Research and Industry
Professor Milind Atrey highlighted, “At IIT Bombay, we have always prioritised education and research. While we encourage startups, not every researcher wants to become an entrepreneur or run a business. As a result, many promising technologies remain unused after the research phase”. The situation often leads to valuable innovations remaining dormant despite their potential to solve real-world problems.
Many Innovations Stall After Proof of Concept
One of the major hurdles in academic research is that innovations frequently stall at the proof-of-concept stage. Once students graduate or researchers shift their focus to new projects, previously developed technologies often remain incomplete. Professor Atrey explained that the institute recognised the absence of a structured mechanism to carry forward such innovations.
“We realised that there was no system in place to convert these ideas into products. TRYST has been created specifically to address this gap and ensure that promising technologies do not remain unused,” he noted. By establishing TRYST, IIT Bombay aims to provide a systematic pathway for technology transfer and commercialisation.
Enhancing Technology Readiness Levels
A key role of TRYST will be to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of innovations developed on campus. Many research projects demonstrate initial feasibility in laboratory conditions, but they require further development before they can be deployed commercially.
To address this challenge, TRYST will support multiple stages of product development, including, prototype development, design optimisation, safety and reliability testing, performance validation and regulatory certification. These processes will help transform early-stage innovations into robust, industry-ready products.
From Lab Concept to Market Product
Professor Atrey explained that the transition from laboratory concept to market-ready product requires several technical and regulatory steps. “At the laboratory stage, researchers typically demonstrate that a concept works. However, turning that concept into a real product requires proper engineering design, safety checks, certification processes and extensive performance testing,” he said. TRYST will play a crucial role in managing these development stages and ensuring that technologies meet industry standards and market expectations.
Strengthening Industry–Academia Collaboration
By creating TRYST, IIT Bombay aims to strengthen industry–academia collaboration and improve the commercial impact of its research activities. The initiative is expected to benefit not only the institute but also the broader innovation ecosystem by enabling companies to access advanced technologies developed in academic laboratories. Furthermore, the move aligns with India’s broader innovation goals by promoting technology transfer, product development, and knowledge-driven entrepreneurship. As reported by swarajyamag.com, as TRYST begins operations, it could serve as a model for other academic institutions seeking to convert research breakthroughs into commercially viable technologies and real-world solutions.
