The event brought together distinguished alumni, industry experts, and thought leaders to explore and discuss India’s evolving role in the global economy.

She emphasized the pivotal role that IIM Lucknow plays in shaping the future of the digital economy and driving international growth.

Keynote address

Mr. Kamlesh Varshney, Full-time Member, SEBI, resonated deeply with the audience as he spoke about the importance of finding satisfaction in one’s work while continuously striving for growth.

Delivering the keynote address, he provided valuable insights into how professionals can align their personal and professional goals to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress.

Discussions

As India recently celebrated 78 years of independence, the discussions at Samvaad 2024 underscored the nation’s significant strides in gaining international recognition as a global powerhouse.

With projections showing that by 2025, one-fifth of the world’s working-age population will be Indian and by 2030, there will be over 850 million internet users in the country, the conclave highlighted how India’s growth is being driven by consumption, services, and a burgeoning consumer class, say sources from IIM Lucknow.

The first, moderated by Ms. Akrati Solanki, Executive Director, Accordion, included Mr. Kamlesh Varshney, Full-time Member, SEBI, IRS ’90, and Mr. Bhaskar Subramanian, Infra Expert and former advisor – NITI Aayog and KPMG.

This panel delved into the complexities of strategy and governance, crucial elements in shaping India’s economic trajectory, say sources from IIM Lucknow.

The second panel, moderated by Mr. Dhruvin Chheda, Chief of Staff, Nykaa, featured industry leaders including Mr. Girish Deshpande, Senior Vice President, IDBI Capital Markets; Mr. Pavan Goyal, Head – Business Solutions at Clarista; and Mr. Ruishikesh Kamat, Director – Group Treasury at Aldar UAE.

This discussion provided diverse perspectives on strategy, governance, and finance, all integral to India’s growth story.

Third panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Abhishek Singh from the Founder’s Office, SalarySe, featured Ms. Taniya Biswas, Co-founder, Suta; Mr. Dev Batra, Co-Founder, Lyxel & Flamingo; and Ms. Niharika Jalan, Founder, IndiCold.

The panellists shared valuable insights on entrepreneurship, drawing from their diverse experiences in building and scaling successful businesses.

Fourth panel, moderated by Mr. Mousom Datta, Key Account Manager, ITC, included Mr. Venkatadri Ranganathan, CCO, Tata Chemicals; Mr. Mohit Gorisariya, Co-founder, SalarySe; and Ms. Tanya Jain, Head of Enterprise Business, Amazon London.

This panel delved into key aspects of marketing, exploring the latest trends, strategies, and challenges in the field, say sources from IIM Lucknow.

Spotlight

Additionally, the event also spotlighted India’s role as a key growth engine for the world, contributing 16% to global growth in 2023.

With a thriving tech industry, India is not only boosting its economic growth but also positioning itself as a hub for innovation and technology services, playing a key role in shaping the future of the digital economy.

Role

As the world witnesses a nation on the rise, the discussions at Samvaad 2024 reaffirmed India’s role in shaping the future of the global economy in 2024 and beyond.

The successful conclusion of the conclave at IIM Lucknow underscores the institute’s commitment to fostering dialogue, innovation, and leadership in this transformative era.

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In 2005, IIM Lucknow expanded its area of influence in the realm of management education by becoming the first IIM to set up a satellite campus exclusively for Executive Education at NOIDA in Delhi NCR region.

As part of Thales’s CSR and solidarity efforts in India, Thales supported this transformative eco-innovation and entrepreneurship challenge, say sources from IIT Madras.

The CZC challenge aims to accelerate groundbreaking solutions to address climate change and foster sustainability, say sources from IIT Madras.

In line with Thales’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, Thales supported the programme for a second consecutive year, for its fourth edition, showcasing its commitment to building a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.

Final teams

The final 25 teams were shortlisted from the initial list of 500 teams.

These teams embarked on a rigorous six-month journey from April to develop sustainable prototypes across various sectors, including energy, materials, agriculture, air, and water, say sources from IIT Madras.

These teams were invited to IIT Madras to showcase their innovations at the CZC 4.0 Grand Expo, held from 26–28 October 2024, say sources from IIT Madras.

Mentoring

They were mentored on business aspects by Sustainability Mafia, a non-profit community of sustainability entrepreneurs.

The CZC initiative encourages deep-technology and circular economy solutions to combat pressing environmental issues. To date, the CZC has supported around 100 prototypes, say sources from IIT Madras.

Support

Mr. Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director for India, Thales said their organization is proud to have supported IIT Madras’ Carbon Zero Challenge.

This is an initiative that not only stimulates transformative eco-innovation but also resonates closely with our vision of advancing sustainable solutions for the future, he said.

Our collaboration on CZC with IIT Madras has been to empower young innovators across India to address critical environmental challenges and pave the way for development of impactful, resource-efficient technologies, in line with our long-term commitment towards nurturing a cleaner, greener world, he said.

We congratulate all the participants and look forward to the continued progress of these exceptional teams in shaping a sustainable tomorrow, he said.

Focus

Prof. Indumathi Nambi, Coordinator, Carbon Zero Challenge Coordinator, IIT Madras, said, with a focus on fostering eco-startups addressing global challenges like climate change, pollution, and circular economy, CZC 4.0 attracted over 2,000 participants from 775 universities and 430 startups across India.

Thirty successful startups have emerged from CZC’s previous cohorts, with another 35 advancing toward commercialization, said Prof Indumathi of IIT Madras.

Participating teams received up to ₹500K in funding and mentorship to develop their prototypes, she said.

Prof Indumathi further said with the success of CZC 4.0, IIT Madras and its partners continue to translate academic research and technology into commercial ventures, addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges through carbon-neutral technologies.

Teams

The top six teams and the team with special mention recognised for their contributions to sustainable technology are:

1. Gudlyf Mobility Pvt Ltd – H2ARWASTE: Developing hydrogen storage cylinders using agricultural waste.

2. EESAN – CBG for Sustainability: Enabling cleaner bio-methane for homes and small businesses.

3. Electropulse Innovations – Wastewater Treatment: Using high-voltage pulse generators for efficient wastewater management.

4. Thaal Chemy Innovations Pvt Ltd – Sustainable Packaging: Producing nano-cellulose from agricultural residues.

5. ReWinT – End-of-Life Turbine Blades: Transforming wind turbine blades using eco-friendly chemical and thermal processes.

6. Chrissron Biomass Solutions – Plant-Based Resin: Manufacturing sustainable resin from plant waste.

The Carbon Zero Challenge represents an unparalleled opportunity for the brightest minds to converge, channel their creativity, and contribute meaningfully towards shaping a sustainable future for our planet.

Together, we can ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship, protect our environment, and move closer to achieving a carbon-neutral world.

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