DW BUREAU / MOHALI University School of Engineering and Technology of the Rayat Bahra University organized the two-day 7th National Conference on `Engineering Research and Applications' (ERA-1021) inaugurated by Dr Navin Kumar, Officiating Director of the IIT Ropar, and Dr Neerja Mittal, Senior Scientist at the CSIO, in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Dr Parvinder Singh, Prof BS Satyal, Registrar, Dr Anurag Dixit, Chairman of the Conference. Dr Navin Kumar, Officiating Director of IIT, emphasised that research must be based on social welfare and students must train their neurons on research work. He said that IIT Ropar was always ready to train the students of Rayat Bahra University. Dr Neerja Mittal said that research must be based on Indian data. Researchers must collect data themselves based on our society, so that Indian society must benefit from the research work. Dr Parvinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the Rayat Bahra University, emphasized that students of the Rayat Bahra University were working very hard in research work and had been developing projects which were beneficial for the society. Prof BS Satyal, Registrar of the Rayat Bahra University, said that students and faculty must work together for developing new research applications. Dr Anurag Dixit, Dean, University school of Engineering, thanked Dr Navin Kumar for inaugurating the conference. He also extended his thanks to Chancellor Gurvinder Singh Bahra and Dr Parvinder Singh, who always encouraged and motivated the faculty and students to organise such events. Dr Pooja Sharma, Head of the Department of Computer Science, and Organising Secretary of National Conference, proposed a vote of thanks. (editor@dailyworld.in)