The iRISE CxO Forum 2023, a prestigious event that explores the realms of research, innovation, and education, unfolded on August 29, 2023, at IISER Pune. This year, the forum centered around the theme, ‘Innovation as a Driver of Growth and Excellence.’ Chaired by Dr. Naushad Forbes, Co-Chairman of Forbes Marshall, former President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Chairman of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Economic Research (CTIER), the event brought together luminaries from academia and industry to delve into the pivotal role of innovation in India’s growth.
Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat, Director of IISER Pune, in his welcome address, provided insights into the unique approach to science education at IISER Pune, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary learning and research opportunities for undergraduate students.
During his keynote address, Dr. Naushad Forbes stressed the significance of integrating research and higher education in India. He highlighted that institutions merging these elements can become valuable sources of skilled and talented human resources for various industries. Drawing from international statistics on Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), he explained how fostering a culture of research and innovation in the industrial sector ultimately leads to rapid economic growth for a country.
A talk session titled ‘Propelling Growth and Excellence through Innovation,’ moderated by Mr. Ajit Sharma, Managing Director India and South Asia at the Royal Society of Chemistry, featured enlightening discussions. Mr. Naveen Kalappa, Chief Financial Officer of Tata Technologies Limited, provided insights into research and innovation in the technology industry, emphasizing how fundamental sciences underpin technological breakthroughs in sectors like automobiles. Dr. Ashish Lele, Director of CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory Pune, discussed the pivotal role of Government Research Laboratories in bridging the gap in translational research and showcased how CSIR labs excel in Research Development Demonstration and Deployment (RDD&D) of innovative technologies.
The panel discussion, “How can India Lead Global Innovation?,” moderated by Dr. Naushad Forbes, brought diverse perspectives to the forefront. Mr. Arvind Goel, Chairman of Tata AutoComp Systems, emphasized the importance of continuous innovation in the industrial sector to maintain a competitive edge. Mr. Rajendra Tripathi, Head of Education Programmes at Public Policy/Government Affairs, British Council India, highlighted the significance of inclusion and diversity in promoting innovation and productivity. Dr. Mayur Datar, Chief Data Scientist at Flipkart, elaborated on the scope of applied innovation in IT, healthcare, and the Digital Public Goods sector in India. Ms. Namita Gupta, Adviser/Scientist ‘G’ at DST, shared insights about the Inspire – Manak scholarship program established by the Government of India to encourage school students, Ph.D. scholars, and Early Career Researchers to pursue careers in research and innovation.
The event also featured an exhibition of photographs taken during teacher training workshops in three Indian states (Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttarakhand) and showcased pedagogical tools created by the Teacher Development Strand of the iRISE program, receiving high appreciation from participants.
Distinguished leaders from academia and industry, including Prof. Sunil S. Bhagwat, Dr. Ashish Lele, Prof. Jayant B. Udgaonkar, Mr. Arvind Goel, Mr. Ajit Sharma, Mr. Naveen Kalappa, Dr. Mayur Datar, Mr. Rajendra Tripathi, Ms. Savitha Balachandran, Mr. Sujit Dixit, Mr. Milind Joshi, Dr. Shridhar S. Shukla, Dr. Richard Lobo, Mr. Suneel Jagdale, and senior government officials, Ms. Namita Gupta and Dr. Sandeep Bansal, actively participated in the event.
About iRISE: Inspiring India in Research Innovation and STEM Education (iRISE) is a collaborative program between the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, British Council, Royal Society of Chemistry, and Tata Technologies. The program aligns with the Government of India’s objective of creating a nurturing ecosystem that promotes research and innovation in schools and universities.
Launched in October 2021, the program consists of four strands: Teachers Development Strand, Early Career Researcher, Thought Leadership Forum, and CxO Forum. The iRISE CxO Forum serves as a unique platform where industry leaders and senior academics collaborate to set the agenda for the partnership and recognize excellence in the application of research and innovation at all partnership levels.
