The two-day conclave, centered around the theme “Building Resilient Businesses through Sustainability.”

Chief Guest

The chief guest for the flagship event of IIM Lucknow was Mr Ansuman Patnaik, Director General, Competition Commission of India.

Both highlighted the increasing importance of integrating sustainability into core business strategies.

Crucial Role

Prof. Ajay Singh, Dean, IIM Lucknow Noida Campus, emphasized the crucial role that sustainability plays in fostering innovation and creating a competitive edge in today’s business environment.

He highlighted how sustainable practices are not just about meeting regulatory requirements or addressing environmental concerns, but are increasingly becoming a key driver of innovation, said Prof Ajay of IIM Lucknow.

He emphasized the critical importance of responsible resource management, highlighting how judicious use of resources is key to ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.

Platform

The conclave offered a dynamic platform for exploring the intersection of sustainability and business resilience, say sources from IIM Lucknow.

It featured thought-provoking discussions and innovative solutions across various pressing topics, including green financing, renewable energy, sustainability measurement and reporting, resilient supply chains, climate change mitigation, net-zero targets, and inclusivity in sustainable practices, say sources from IIM Lucknow.

Keynote Address

During her keynote address, Ms. Shilpy Kochhar, Head of Strategic Partnerships, BIRAC, addressed the audience, highlighting the organization’s pioneering efforts in advancing sustainable biotech solutions.

She emphasized BIRAC’s commitment to fostering innovation in biotechnology, particularly through initiatives like Global Bio India, which serves as a platform to showcase cutting-edge biotech advancements.

Panel Discussion

Sanrakshan 2024 also featured a series of insightful panel discussions with top industry leaders:

· The Future of Renewable Energy in India: Challenges in Integration with the Grid & Energy Storage Solutions

– Mr. Sandeep Chaterjee, Supply Chain & Sustainability Leader, IBM India

– Mr. Manish Dabkara, CEO, Enking International

– Mr. Vikash Kumar, Manager, NTPC

– Mr. Anjan Das. EY GDS (Moderator)

· Measuring & Reporting Sustainability: Standardizing sustainability reporting framework

– Mr. Pramod Pandey, Global ESH Leader, Philips India

– Ms. Sheetal Sharad, Chief Ratings Officer, ICRA, India

– Mr. Gaurish Wagh, M&G Associates

– Mr. Remant Tiwary, Director, Delloitte

– Ms. Richa Ahuja, TBC

· Financing the Sustainable Future, Exploring innovative financing mechanisms

– Mr. Aadil Chittalwala, Peak Ventures

– Mr. Sagar Asapur, Climate Risk Horizon

– Ms. Shilpy Kochar, BIRAC

– Mr. Sanjeet Ghosh, Accenture (Moderator)

· Sustainable Supply chain and Resource Management: Building resilient supply chains

– Dr Pankaj Sharma, Addl Director, PPAC

– Mr. Abhinav Kaushal, Zero Carbon One

– Mr. Baliram Mutagekar, BNY Mellon

– Mr. Gaurav Sahni. Regional Head, A P Moller Maersk

– Mr. Chandra Bhushan Singh, PwC India (Moderator)

· Closing the Loop: Practical applications of circular economy principles

– Mr. Pranay Kumar, Founder and CSO, Green work

– Mr. Priyadarshan, WRI, TBC

– Mr. Aalok Deshmukh, SuperHuman race, TBC

– Ms. Priyanshi Kawdia, Accenture (Moderator)

Conclusion

Sanrakshan 2024 concluded with a keynote address by Mr. D.M.R. Panda, General Manager – Hydrogen/QA/P&S, Renewable Energy at NTPC Limited, say sources from IIM Lucknow.

His talk, titled “India’s Green Growth Engine: Policy and Innovations for a Sustainable Future,” highlighted the importance of innovative policies and renewable energy in driving sustainable development.

These startups, at the forefront of sustainability, showcased groundbreaking technologies and approaches poised to redefine the future of business.

Competitions

The event also hosted a variety of competitions, including BizzQuiz, Samadhaan, Thrive, Harit Vit, and Harit Apoorti, providing platforms for students and entrepreneurs to present innovative sustainability solutions.

In addition to these competitions, the event featured multiple cultural and artistic performances, including a unique presentation titled “Prana Prakriti: Sustainability Spirit Through Art,” which conveyed the essence of sustainability through classical dance.

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Furthermore, a sustainable fashion show highlighted IIM Lucknow‘s commitment to promoting sustainability across various sectors.

This collaboration agreement seeks to capitalize on the strengths of both institutions, broadening the learning experience for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (BS) programs at IIT Madras and undergraduate programs at IIT Palakkad.

To date, over 30,000 students are actively participating in this program, fostering a vibrant and interactive learning community, say sources from IIT Palakkad.

Director of IIT Madras

Welcoming this collaboration, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said IIT Madras is committed to reach quality education to every deserving student in our country. This initiative with IIT Palakkad is a very significant step towards reaching the goals.

We are enthusiastic about mentoring these bright minds. Our courses and internships have a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and innovation, said director of IIT Palakkad.

This collaboration with IIT Madras will build a robust foundation that equips students with the skills, insights, and networks they need to excel, he said.

Key features

The key features of this collaboration include:

Ø Credit Transfer from IITPkd Courses: IIT Madras BS (Data Science and Applications) students who meet the eligibility criteria can fulfil their credit requirements by taking courses at IIT Palakkad, promoting an exchange of academic resources and expertise.

Ø Access to IIT Madras Courses for IIT Palakkad Students: The MoU allows undergraduate students at IIT Palakkad to enrol in courses on Data Science and Programming from the IIT Madras BS program, ensuring equitable access to these cutting-edge skills.

Ø Support for Additional Initiatives: The collaboration will also facilitate student exchange programs, internship opportunities, and other joint initiatives.

Commitment

This collaboration between IIT Madras and IITPkd highlights the commitment of both institutions to enrich student experiences through cross-disciplinary exposure, practical learning, and research opportunities.

It aims to create a robust academic ecosystem that utilizes the expertise and infrastructure of both IITs.

Collaboration

IIT Madras has been collaborating with other leading institutions in the country to provide in-person learning opportunities for final-year students in the BS program.

IIT Gandhinagar, IIIT Hyderabad, and Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) have already made their campus courses available to eligible students from the IIT Madras BS (Data Science) degree program.

About IIT Palakkad

Established in 2015, the Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad is dedicated to creating an environment that enables students and faculty to engage in the pursuit of knowledge, to dream, think, and innovate thereby becoming change agents for a better world.

Having begun with just 120 students in July 2015, IIT Palakkad has since grown into an establishment that is about a thousand students strong and with the best manpower in key positions.

IITPkd aims to become a multi-disciplinary institution with 5000 students by its 10th year. The Institute recognizes collective growth, in collaboration with industry and other academic institutions, as the need of the time and emphasizes blue-sky research and directed research as two essential pillars of technology development.

The Institute embraces a vision to be a leader in cross-disciplinary inquiries, and to contribute to the potential that India’s demographic dividend represents for the country and the world, which is embodied in the motto of the institute “Nurturing minds for a better world”.

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