Kanpur: Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar and Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel attended the event on “Role of Innovation in India’s Development” held at IIT Kanpur.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in his address on “Role of Innovation in India’s Development” highlighted the critical importance of innovation in shaping the future of the nation. He emphasised how IIT Kanpur, a beacon of excellence, is playing a vital role in nurturing innovative minds that are driving transformational changes across the world. Citing the success of IIT Kanpur alumni who have made notable contributions in industries such as technology and communications, he underlined the far-reaching impact of IIT graduates on global markets, especially in places like Silicon Valley.
He also recognised India’s remarkable progress in terms of infrastructure, global recognition and technological advancements and asked students to leverage this ecosystem for their development and the nation’s prosperity.
Jagdeep Dhankhar also highlighted the need for a strong commitment to innovation from the corporate world, asking businesses to significantly increase their investments in research and development to drive growth and technological advancement. Highlighting the role of IIT Kanpur in promoting entrepreneurship through initiatives such as its Incubation Centre, he said that just as IIT Kanpur has supported over 400 startups, including women-led enterprises, there is a critical need for continued support for such initiatives. Sharing his vision for the future of innovation, the Vice President said that our innovations must focus on smart, scalable and sustainable solutions that not only solve real-world problems but also create a lasting impact.
He urged IIT Kanpur to engage in mission-mode projects that empower farmers by adding value to their produce, especially through the use of technology. He said that, by fostering innovation in the agriculture sector, IIT Kanpur has the opportunity to transform India’s agricultural landscape, create new avenues for economic growth and improve the livelihoods of millions of farmers across the country.
On this occasion, Governor of the State, Anandiben Patel lauded IIT Kanpur’s unique legacy as a leader in technological excellence and innovation, and underlined its important role in inspiring students to bring about meaningful social change. She said that innovation does not mean just creating new technology; it is adopting new ideas to meet the needs of society. India’s progress in sectors such as agriculture, health and education is driven by innovation and institutions like IIT Kanpur play a vital role in ensuring that these advancements benefit everyone. With the right guidance, the progress of innovation in India will lead the country towards self-reliance and development by 2047.
Professor Manindra Aggarwal, Director IIT Kanpur reiterated the Institute’s commitment to advancing technological excellence for societal benefit. He said that Vice President’s choice of the theme ‘Role of Innovation in India’s Development’ is perfectly aligned with the Institute’s mission to advance technological advancement and societal impact. His insights will inspire us to deepen our commitment to foster innovation and create impactful technologies that lead India to a self-reliant and prosperous future.
The Vice President’s visit to IIT Kanpur underscored the critical role of innovation in India’s future, inspiring students and alumni to pursue technological advancements that will shape the nation’s progress towards becoming a developed and self-reliant global leader.
Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana, DADM, Khadi, Village Industries, Sericulture and Textiles Minister Rakesh Sachan, Deputy Director Prof. Braj Bhushan, along with faculty, staff and students were present on the occasion.
