INNOVATION SUMMIT - 2016

A seminar on “Innovation Summit - 2016” was organized by PHD Chamber on 3rd June 2016. The theme was, “Enhancing Innovative Capacities of MSMEs”. Advisor (R&D), Prof. TPN Singh attended the program. Following dignitaries graced the occasion:

1. Mr. Anil Khaitan - Vice President, PHD Chamber

2. Mr. Deepak Pahwa - Chairman, Innovation Committee, PHD Chamber and Group Chariman, Pahwa Group

3. Shri Satya Prakash Singh - General Manager, SIDBI

4. Mr. Arun Kumar Jha - IES, CEO, Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India

5. Dr. Jatinder Singh - Sr. Secretary, PHD Chamber

Mr. Khaitan rendered the welcome address and thanked the dignitaries and members of the audience for their presence. He stated that PHD Chamber is 111 years old and is presently having MOUs with 60 International Chambers. There are 57.9 million MSME units in the country contributing 6% to the National GDP. Manufacturing export is having a share of 40% where the role of MSME is prominent. Innovation is about creation and commercialization of knowledge and to improve research and development, it is imperative that investment in innovation should be foremost. Diffusion of knowledge is essential for creation of market potential for the product. The underprivileged section of society is highly creative and should be given a platform to manifest their potential. In the present scenario, it is extremely important that basic skills should be inculcated in rural people. Towards this end, Prime Minister Kaushal Vikash Yojana has been launched for professional training.

The various schemes of Niti Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India Aayog) under the aegis of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) are:

1. Establishing tinkering laboratories in schools

2. Establishing new incubation centres

3. Scaling-up established incubation centres

4. Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs)

To foster creativity and scientific temper in students, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) will establish 500 Atal Tinkering Laboratories in schools.

Mr. Pahwa spoke on innovations taking place across the globe. He spoke on Indovation, a term coined by the famous scientist Padma Vibhushan Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar and gave the example of Nano Car. India is heading to become the leading economy of the world in the coming years. Presently Bengaluru is the number four innovation hub in the world. Innovation is seen today as the global currency of the 21st century. It is no longer restricted to laboratories and research papers but has become a way of life. Reverse innovation is about making a product in a developing country and commercializing in matured markets. In today’s world, technology has to be embedded in whatever we do e.g. molecules are being generated on computers and validated by labs. He spoke further on fuel cells where automobiles are being powered by hydrogen gas obtained by electrolysis of water through solar radiation as displayed at the recently concluded Hanover trade fair in Germany.

Mr. S. P. Singh gave a brief on financial aspects of MSMEs. SIDBI is taking great strides in the area of innovation and finance. It has funded and mentored incubation centers at IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad which has created 200 innovators. It is now collaborating with Kalinga University, Bhuvneshwar for incubation center. Government has given a corpus fund of 10,000 crores for National Innovation fund. He invited young entrepreneurs to submit proposals for start - ups to SIDBI for funding and mentorship.

Mr. Jha emphasized that ideas and thought process of the lowest worker should be captured. He opined that labor class must be secured. His target was to set up 100 incubators in the khadi sector.

The afternoon sessions comprised of panel discussions on Innovation Strategies for Sustainable MSME Financing and Technology Adaptation in MSMEs for Innovation.

The program came to an end at 04:00 pm.