Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Kolkata has an active innovation and incubation centre which has two patents to it’s credit already and in the process of filing for more this years. Raja Sadhukhan, principal of the institute talks about larger vision of the institute in research and innovation.
The Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Kolkata has been recognised as the Best Hotel Management College at the 55th annual FHRAI Convention in Bangalore. The institute is not only excelling in academics but also leading in innovation, with its incubation and innovation centre developing patented products for the hospitality industry.
The institute has received two important patents this year and is in the process of filing a few more this year itself.
One of the parents is a charcoal ‘Sandesh’, a highly sought after and delicious sweet delicaculy from West Bengal. The other one is a non-slippery chopping board. The institute is currently working with the industry partners to commercially roll out these items.
Speaking to HospitalityBiz India, Raja Sadhukhan, said, that the long term vision of the incubation and innovation centre is to collaborate with the industry and file at least 100 patents in the next 10 years.
“We are hoping to file at least three more patents this 2025-26 itself,” he said.
“One of our proudest achievements has been the patent for the charcoal Sandesh, a modern take on Bengal’s most loved sweet,” Sadhukhan said. “It is nostalgia wrapped in health. We developed it with two main ingredients—activated charcoal, known for its detoxifying properties, and stevia, a natural plant-based sweetener. This makes the Sandesh safe even for diabetics, while retaining its appeal for everyone.”
“We are now working with leading brands of Bengal, including restaurateur Anjan Chatterjee, to bring this product into the commercial market. The royalty from sales will be reinvested into research, encouraging student-led entrepreneurship,” Sadhukhan added.
Talking about the non-slip chopping board, Sadhukhan said that the innovation prevents the board from sliding on surfaces, eliminating the need for cloth or paper underneath.
“We are currently prototyping it for commercial rollout,” he explained.
Looking ahead, IHM Kolkata is ambitious about intellectual property. “By 2025–26, we plan to file at least five to six patents, and over the next decade, we are aiming for a hundred,” he shared his vision.
He wanted the hotel industry to collaborate and partner with the institute to file for patents of their signature recipes.
The incubation centre also doubles as a platform to support student startups. “Our goal is to ensure that students don’t just secure good placements but also have the opportunity to build their own ventures,” he said adding another aspect to the innovation centre. “We are bringing in mentors from the industry who can guide and even invest in promising student entrepreneurs.”
When asked about the progress of the MoU that National Council of Hotel Management & Catering Technogy – NCHMCT – has signed with major hotel groups a year back, Sadhukhan said that the initiative has started translating into training opportunities, mentorship, and strong placement records of sorts for IHMs.
“Last year alone, more than 600 jobs were offered to our students by nearly 60 companies. With industry participation in our projects and activities, our students are gaining real-world exposure that builds their confidence,” he shared.
When asked about career opportunities and need for sensitisation, Sadhukhan said that tourism is rapidly growing segment of the economy and it is time hospitality became a career of choice for young and aspirational India.
