Hyd: Plastics Industry needs strong talent ecosystem for Global Growth : PlastIndia Prez
Hyderabad, Aug 9 (TNT): India’s plastics industry needs a strong talent and knowledge ecosystem to sustain its growth and emerge as a global manufacturing and innovation hub, said PlastIndia Foundation President Dr Raju Desai.
Speaking at the inauguration of HIPLEX 2026 here on saturday in the presence of Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Desai stressed the need for greater investment in specialised education, research and innovation to meet the evolving requirements of the sector.
He highlighted the role of PlastIndia International University (PIU), promoted by the PlastIndia Foundation, in developing professionals, technologists, researchers and entrepreneurs for the plastics and polymer industry.
PIU, located at Vapi in Gujarat, has been established with a focus on plastics, polymers and sustainability.
The PlastIndia Foundation has invested in PIU through a joint venture with the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell), USA, he said.
“The future of the plastics industry will not be shaped by machines and technology alone. It will be shaped by people who have the knowledge, skills and vision to use technology responsibly and sustainably,” Desai said.
He said the plastics industry was undergoing a major transformation driven by advanced materials, automation, Industry 4.0, recycling, circular economy and sustainable materials, with applications expanding across healthcare, agriculture, packaging and infrastructure.
“We need to move from an industry that primarily produces plastics to an industry that creates solutions through plastics. This requires continuous investment in education, research, innovation and sustainability,” he said.
PIU offers B.Tech programmes in Plastics and Polymer Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering, besides specialised programmes for working professionals.
Its research areas include plastic recycling, biodegradable and compostable polymers, polymeric biomaterials, sustainable polymers from renewable sources, plastics processing, polymer synthesis, composites and nanocomposites.
Desai said India’s ambition to become a global manufacturing destination required a corresponding expansion of specialised technical manpower, multidisciplinary skills and research capabilities.
He called for closer collaboration between industry, academia and government, saying industry problems should become subjects of research and research findings should be translated into practical applications.
On sustainability, Desai said it should be an integral part of plastics education and industry development. The challenge was to make plastics sustainable through science, technology, responsible design, recycling and innovation, he said.
The PlastIndia Foundation has positioned education, research and innovation as key components of the plastics industry’s long-term development, Desai added.
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