STORY CREDITS
Writer: Vasudha Chatterjee
Photo: Diptanka Sekhar De
The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) successfully hosted the second edition of CoLab, its annual Industry Open House event, on February 22, 2025. Aimed at fostering sustainable collaborations between industry and academia, the event attracted more than 246 industry professionals from across the country, creating an exciting platform for knowledge exchange and innovation.
The event brought together distinguished speakers from prestigious institutions and corporations, including the University of Edinburgh, Missouri State University, USA, Adani Energy Solutions Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), Syngenta, Tabor Electronics Limited, Altem Technologies Private Limited, and many more. These leaders shared invaluable insights on ten key domains: Infrastructure, Biomedical Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing and Semiconductors, Energy and Water, Fintech and Artificial Intelligence, Agro and Food Processing, Quantum Technologies, Defence and Space Technology, Environment and Sustainability, and Medtech and Pharma.
In his inaugural address, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN, emphasised the growing importance of industry-academia partnerships in addressing complex challenges in research, industry, and national development. “For the last forty years or so, I have been continuously looking at what industry-academia collaboration can lead to. Till about two decades ago, many of us believed that industry and academia collaboration can happen only through student exchanges. Today, however, the scenario has changed massively. This event is an attempt to engage with the industry with more vigor and passion.”
The event featured several impactful keynote sessions, starting with Mr Ashish Khushu, Chief Technology Officer, L&T Technology Services Limited, who highlighted the need for both sectors to better understand each other’s challenges. “The industry has its concerns with return on investment, while academia’s focus is often on long-term research. But only through collaboration – and even failure – can we drive meaningful conversations ahead” he stated. Mr Khushu also shed light on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in leveling the playing field across industries and countries. “This is for the first time that a technology is being discovered by everyone simultaneously,” he added.
Following Mr Khushu, Ms Nithya Subramanian, Head of Data & Analytics, Kellanova (Kellogg’s) AMEA, shared her expertise in AI’s impact on healthcare, pharma and EdTech. Her session, ‘AI Odyssey – How Industry is Leveraging AI for Business Excellence’, explored AI’s contributions to productivity, cost reduction, and hyper-personalization, while also addressing its potential pitfalls.
Mr Ashish Khushu addressing the audience
Ms Shivani Patyal, Program Manager of IITGN X, further elaborated on the institute’s education outreach initiative, IITGN X, which offers various e-masters programs aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry. She encouraged attendees to engage with this initiative for collaborative growth and skill development.
Furthermore, Prof Sivapriya Kirubakaran, Kankuben Bakshirambhai Gelot Chair Professor, Chemistry, shared her journey with Procycl Therapeutics Pvt Ltd, a healthcare startup focussed on the development of innovative treatments for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The event also featured an insightful talk by Uday Parmar, co-founder, Lilypad, who foregrounded the importance of building Work Integrated Learning Programs (WILPs) in developing a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation in the Indian industry.
Mr Nihar S Raj, Senior Vice President (O&M), Adani Energy Solutions Ltd interacting with the exhibitors
After the keynote addresses, the participants attended five dynamic sessions: Green Nexus: Energy, Water, Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Sustainability; Next-Gen Healthcare: MedTech, Pharma, and Biomedical Advances; Advanced Manufacturing: Materials, Semiconductors, and Quantum Technologies; The New Space-Defense Paradigm: Technology, Security, and Beyond, and AI in the Modern World: Overcoming Challenges and Shaping the Future, each entailing academicians and industry professionals from various sectors. In addition to these engaging discussions, CoLab 2025 also featured research exhibitions, lab tours, and visit to the IITGN Research Park – a space that stands as a living testament to the power of industry-academia partnerships.