THEstate\\\'slargestassociation of Information Technology companies -Gujarat Electronics and Software Industries Association (GESIA) -has tied up with Gujarat Technological University for joint research in IT.

Thetie-upwillhelpstudents fromthe200-pluscollegesaffiliated to GTU gain through industry-oriented experience, while the association hopes the students to help the industries with their ideas and expertise. The effort is part of GTU\\\'sInnovation Sankul, un der which various regional councils are set up to look into the industries that are abundant in the area, eventually helping students get projects based on real problems.

GESIA has also taken the initiative to alert all its 265 member companies, sending them an excel sheet to fill up the details. GESIA executive secretary Mukesh Pujara has in an email to the companies asked them to appoint a mentor for the students who are to workwiththem,andalsomention how many students they expect to accommodate.

The association has also outlined that one of the main problems facing the industry is the shortage of skilled manpower and retention of staff.
TheITindustryinGujarathad nevertheless performed well during the economic meltdown when other IT hubs were laying off workers.

In June 2009, less than a year after the meltdown, a GESIA jobfairhadseen small and medium-sized companies pick up almost 400 new staff with about an equal number being recruited in the following months.

GTU officials and GESIA heads are expected to come out with the finer details of the collaboration soon .