SAMRIDHI Conclave organised at IIT Ropar
Bahadurjeet Singh / Rupnagar, August 13,2023
A resounding triumph echoed within the hallowed halls of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)Ropar, as a dynamic collaboration with the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, culminated in the triumphant hosting of the “Strategic Acceleration for Market, Research, Innovation & Development: a Holistic Initiative for ICPS Startups,” more commonly known as the SAMRIDHI Conclave. This event stands as a testament to the institute’s resolute commitment and a pioneering milestone in advancing revolutionary strides in Agriculture and Water Technology Development. The conclave’s trajectory harmoniously aligns with the overarching National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM – ICPS).
Commencing the intellectual discourse, Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Secretary, SERB, and Senior Adviser DST, delivered an enlightening address during the inaugural ceremony. Dr. Gupta meticulously expounded upon the meteoric ascent of cyber-physical technologies, casting them as impending trailblazers within the industrial landscape. His clarion calls for research and development endeavours to seamlessly converge with pragmatic market considerations crystallized into a call for symbiotic collaboration between academia and industry. Dr. Gupta’s impassioned advocacy for a relaxation of the General Financial Rules (GFRs) to galvanize the startup ecosystem resonated profoundly, spotlighting science, technology, and cyber-tech ventures as pioneering torchbearers within the global market panorama.
The SAMRIDHI Startup Conclave convened a symposium of pioneering intellects, including luminaries such as Dr. Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi, Chairperson, National Council for Vocational Education & Training, GOI; Tarun Dua, CEO, E2E Networks Limited; Amitabh Nag, Chief Executive Officer, BHASHINI, MeitY; and S. K Rai, MD, Hero Cycle Group. This convergence cast a spotlight on the multifaceted applications of deep tech, particularly within the domains of Agriculture and Water Technology Development, as expert insights illumined the pathways to transformative innovation.
A crowning achievement of the SAMRIDHI Startup Conclave was the forging of strategic pacts through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with revered entities, including but not limited to Dassault Systems India Private Limited, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE France), Innovation Mission Punjab, BHASHINI MeitY, Wadhwani Foundation, and others. These alliances, underpinned by a shared vision, serve as a testament to the conclave’s steadfast mission to galvanize innovation and usher in an era of unprecedented growth.
The conclave’s intellectual expanse unfolded across thematic tracks, each underpinned by riveting sessions and dialogues. Themes encompassed “Beyond Boundaries: Driving Innovations in Deep Tech through Investments”, “Deep Tech Unleashed: Building Tomorrow through Investments in Innovations”, “Inclusion and Growth: Women’s Impact on the Tech Investment Sphere”, “Empowering National Security: Building Resilience for Blockchain and Def-Tech”, as well as a session on the National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) by Office of PSA, GoI by Rishab, Invest India.
Running in parallel, a dynamic exhibition showcased 50 trailblazing startups, while a pitch event unveiled the prowess of 15 dynamic startups, collectively embodying the conclave’s quintessence of innovation and enterprise.
Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, expressed profound gratitude for the confluence of endeavours uniting academia, industry, and startups, underscoring their pivotal role in shaping consequential outcomes. Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh, Project Director AWaDH, TIH, IIT Ropar, garnered well-deserved accolades for his unswerving commitment to advancing AWaDH’s mission.
SAMRIDHI Conclave organised at IIT Ropar. The SAMRIDHI Startup Conclave at IIT Ropar stands as a paragon of the institute’s unflinching dedication to catapulting technological frontiers and nurturing sustainable advancements within the realm of deep tech-driven Agriculture and Water Technology Development.
