Itanagar, Nov 21 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee Friday said the government's "Make in India" initiative depends to a large extent on the deepening of the alliance between academia and industry.

Speaking at the first convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Yupia - around 20 kms from Arunachal Pradesh' capital Itanagar - Mukherjee said turning NITs into world-class engineering institutes calls for developing multiple linkages.

"Most NITs have an industry interface cell in place. The cell has to explore possibilities like sponsoring of chair positions by industry; drafting experts from industry in project guidance and curriculum design; and setting up incubation centres, laboratories and research parks".

"The 'Make in India' initiative aimed at making our country a manufacturing hub depends to a large extent on the deepening of this academia-industry alliance," said the president.

The president also said that the NITs have to actively engage with other institutes for research collaboration and sharing of best practices and have to be more proactive in their interaction with the industry.

"NITs have to also devise mechanisms to connect with their alumni, many of whom have excelled in their chosen field," he added.

"They could be inducted in governance mechanisms, or utilized for business and project mentoring of students as well as in curriculum design," said Mukherjee.