@ Vikas Sharma | Sr Journalist
Delhi – As India is still a developing economy, there are various challenges and issues, and to tackle that we do need a stronger foundation, with a solution-oriented approach. With this agenda, MIT-World Peace University, Pune along with IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Knowledge Committee organised INDCON 2020-2021 held in Delhi. The virtual event highlighted how educational institutes in India can drive the focus and create the awareness and importance of R&D. The platform addressed the need for value change through R&D establishment at universities.
The event kickstarted its three-day long sessions which began from 26th November to 28th November. The virtual event witnessed the presence and participation of over twenty thousand students, industry stalwarts, scholars, educationalists and key personalities from Delhi. INDCON 2020-2021 will have a series of conclaves for over Eight months covering major cities like, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Indore and Chandigarh.
Mr. Sailesh Shriwastawa, Secretary – DPE Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise Govt of India who was the chief guest for the inaugural session, said “Value will not only be created by mass production or scale production but also by improving research, design and engineering activities in our own country. And for this, Government, Industries & Academia should come together”.
Mr. Pravin V Patil, Chief Executive Officer, CIAP, MIT World Peace University said, “ Through INDCON 2020-2021, we aim to create a common platform for students and Industry stalwarts who will act as mentors, guiding them regarding industry demands and opportunities. Today there a huge demand for skilled based jobs, and for that we need to ensure that the youth of our nation are ready and prepared. We aim to promote a dialogue between students and industry stalwarts, as this will open up new avenues and would also help in generating a an industry ready workforce”.
Mr. Nikhil Malhotra, Chief Innovation Officer, Tech Mahindra, during one the session said, “India needs to come out of the syndrome that if any theory originates in the west then it has the right answers”.
Mr. Tilak Seth, Executive Vice-President, Siemens Ltd who was a speaker said, “We must answer the question as to why are Indians contributing more to R&D worldwide than to R&D in India”.
There were many other eminent industry stalwarts like Ms. Roopam Jha Consultant Corporate Relations, IIT Delhi, Dr. Geetanjali Batra Associate Professor, ABVSME. JNU, Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Hiranandani Group of Companies , Mr. Sanjeev S. Ahluwalia, Advisor, Observer Research Foundation, Mr Subodh Sachan, Director at Software Technology Parks of India , Mr. Soumendra Roy, Dean of Academics, Brijmohan Institute of Management and Technology, Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe ,Chairman, AICTE, Dr. M. Durgamohan, Director, BharatiyaVidyaBhavan’s Usha and Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management, Dr Jasvir Singh, Regulatory, Scientific and Government Affairs Leader- South Asia, DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences, Mr. Kapil Gandhi, Vice-President – Digital Strategy and Innovation, Genpact Digital who discussed the role of educational institutions in research and development and the scope for innovations in Research and Development in India.
Topics of Discussed at Delhi INDCON 2020-21
1 Creating Next Frontier in Research & Development Ecosystem, Enabling Atmanirbhar Bharat”
2 Role of educational institutions in research and development initiatives in India
3 Industry – Academia Knowledge collaboration, role of corporates in India
4 Opportunities and Challenges for sustainable R&D initiatives in India
5 Will the NEP-2020 be helpful in promoting Research and Development culture in India
6 Scope for innovations in Research and Development in India: Role of Higher Education and Industries
7 Identifying the potential of R&D in India and understanding the challenges faced by the academic institutions to strengthen R&D within the university.
8 Challenges and Opportunities in setting up technology / Incubation centres in private universities: Role of Industries & Government
9 Best practices in Research and Development: India and other top 10 countries in R&D