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National Level NIT Deans’ Conclave on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Hosted at NITK Surathkal

By Editor

Posted on September 25, 2026

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National Level NIT Deans' Conclave on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Hosted at NITK Surathkal

Surathkal : The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, successfully organized a comprehensive two-day All-India NIT Deans’ Conclave on Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem on September 24 and 25. Organized at the behest of the Ministry of Education following a resolution by the NITSER Council, the conclave brought together over 50 delegates from 30 NITs across the nation—including Deans of Research, Associate Deans, Heads of Startup Incubators, and Coordinators of Institute Innovation Councils—to formulate unified policies and strengthen entrepreneurship practices.

The opening day on September 24 saw delegates participating in immersive visits to NITK’s key research facilities, including the Centre for System Design, IDEA Factory, Central Research Facility, SEARCH, and the Science & Technology Entrepreneurs’ Park (STEP). Following the visits, the delegates formed four specialized deliberation groups to identify and prioritize core institutional challenges surrounding research translation, product innovation, technology licensing, and startup incubation, setting the stage for actionable solutions.

The formal inauguration on September 25 commenced with a welcome address by Prof. B. Ramachandra Bhat, Dean (Research and Innovation) at NITK, who highlighted the critical need for inter-NIT cooperation. Chief Guest Shri Heera Lal, Deputy Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, commended NITK Surathkal for hosting the event, emphasizing the Ministry’s high expectations from NIT graduates and assuring continued governmental support to nurture an innovation culture amid rapid AI advancement. Prof. B. Ravi, Director of NITK, presented best practices for connecting research, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship in a “golden spiral” while detailing NITK’s bold curriculum designed to support startup pathways. Additional sessions were delivered by Dr. Rashmi Uchil, Dr. K. Suprabha, Prof. Subraya Hegde, and Shri Niranjan Mahabalappa, President of the NITK Surathkal Alumni Association, who underscored the crucial role of alumni as mentors and investors.

The event concluded with an interactive fireside chat moderated by NITK Director Prof. B. Ravi, featuring Dr. M.J.S. Raman, CEO of Pravartak at IIT Madras Research Park, and Shri Niranjan Mahabalappa. Participating delegates praised the initiative, with Prof. A. Dinamani Singh from NIT Manipur noting it as an exceptional networking platform to address institutional shortcomings, and Prof. Roohie, Dean (Research & Consultancy) from NIT Srinagar, affirming that the insights gained will empower institutes to guide aspiring student entrepreneurs and transform graduates from job seekers into job providers.