Turning Campus Ideas into Working Solutions

Specttrum Profiles: A student project often ends with a classroom presentation. Dr. Santosh Darade wants it to travel further. He wants the idea to become a prototype, the prototype to become a product, and the product to solve a real problem. This project-to-product journey has shaped his work as an academic leader, researcher and innovation strategist.

Dr. Darade currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of CRiEYA and Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune. With more than two decades of experience across teaching, research governance, cybersecurity and institutional development, he has played an important role in building an organised innovation ecosystem within the university.

At the centre of this work is CRiEYA, the Centre for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Young Aspirants. The initiative provides a structured pre-incubation pathway for students and faculty members. It supports early-stage ideas through research mentoring, industry interaction, intellectual property guidance and product development.

Under this framework, more than 200 multidisciplinary projects have received support. Several have progressed into functional prototypes, startup ventures and technology transfers. The university has also created a substantial annual innovation fund to strengthen promising projects during their early Technology Readiness Level stages.

For Dr. Darade, innovation requires more than enthusiasm. It needs a system. A good idea must be examined, improved, tested and connected with real users. Industry professionals must enter the process early. Researchers need guidance on patents, copyrights, grants and commercial possibilities. Students also need the confidence to move beyond marks and certificates. This belief has encouraged him to bring CEOs, CTOs and domain experts into the university ecosystem as mentors and collaborators. Such engagement helps students understand whether their proposed solutions can survive outside the laboratory.

His own research work is rooted in computer networks and information security. His areas of interest include Software Defined Networking, intrusion detection, load balancing, Internet of Things, edge intelligence and cybersecurity architecture. His research has appeared in recognised academic publications, and he has contributed to projects involving secure infrastructure, geo-encryption and technology-driven healthcare solutions.

One of his funded research projects explored the protection of critical national infrastructure through location-based geo-encryption. He has also worked on an automated ultrasonic height and weight measurement system connected with a customised application for health assessment. Alongside research, Dr. Darade has contributed extensively to academic writing. He has authored more than twenty books covering subjects such as cyber security, cryptography, network security and digital forensics. Several of these books have been prescribed or used across Indian universities and technical institutions.

His academic journey includes a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from GITAM University, a Master of Engineering from the University of Mumbai and an engineering degree from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. Before joining MIT ADT University, he served in teaching and leadership roles at institutions in Pune, including Trinity Academy of Engineering and Sinhgad Institute of Technology and Science.

As a Head of Department and research leader, he worked on accreditation, faculty mentoring, funded projects, innovation programmes and academic governance. He also contributed to hackathons, faculty development initiatives and the establishment of specialised laboratories for Software Defined Networking.

I met Dr. Santosh Darade during a professional assignment at MIT ADT University. He personally took me through the CRiEYA facility and explained how the department was helping young researchers convert ideas into workable outcomes. His enthusiasm was visible. So was his pride in the students and faculty members associated with the centre.

Despite the technical nature of his work, he communicates with warmth and simplicity. His friendly personality makes conversations easy, while his detailed understanding of institutional systems gives his ideas practical depth. That combination matters. Dr. Darade's focus remains on measurable movement. A project should gain maturity. A prototype should be tested. Intellectual property should be protected. Industry should participate. A promising team should find a path towards incubation.

His journey reflects the changing role of a modern educator. Teaching remains important. The educator must also become a mentor, connector, strategist and builder of opportunities. Dr. Santosh Darade is helping create that environment, where young minds are encouraged to move from curiosity to research, and from research to solutions that can enter the world.

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